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Prostate Laser Surgery
Prostate laser surgery is a minimally invasive therapy for an enlarged prostate that obstructs the bladder, where a portion of the prostate is removed with the use of a specialized laser.
Indications
- Urinary retention
- Medical therapy failure
- Recurrent infection
- Renal insufficiency
- Bladder stones
- Prostatic bleeding
Procedure
The patient is brought to the operating room (either at the hospital or ambulatory surgery) and given an anesthetic to help them relax during the procedure. A cystoscope is then used along with a specialized laser fiber to remove a portion of the prostate that blocks the bladder’s drainage. A catheter is left in the bladder after the procedure and then usually removed the next day.
Advantages
- Minimally invasive surgery for bladder outlet obstruction
- Shortened recovery
- Lower blood loss than convention prostate surgery
Side Effects
Most patients will experience some initial discomfort with voiding after the procedure has been done, but this should resolve in a few days. On occasion a patient may need to wear a catheter for several additional days, and rarely a scar may develop at the opening of the bladder that requires another surgery to resolve.
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