Definition: A minimally invasive procedure to treat an enlarged prostate (BPH) by using a laser to precisely cut and remove the obstructing prostate tissue.
Procedure Steps:
1. Anesthesia: Spinal or general anesthesia.
2. Access: A resectoscope is passed through the penis.
3. Enucleation & Morcellation: The laser fiber is used to shell out (enucleate) the enlarged prostate lobes from their capsule. A separate device (morcellator) is then used to cut the tissue into small pieces and remove them.
Purpose / Benefits:
• Purpose: To relieve urinary symptoms caused by Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH).
• Benefits:
o Considered a gold-standard laser treatment with very durable results.
o Minimal bleeding, allowing it to be used on patients on blood thinners.
o Shorter catheterization and hospital stay compared to traditional surgery (TURP).