DEAR DR. GOTT: My father is 93 years old. Owing to an enlarged prostate, he is not able to completely empty his bladder. He is feeling no pain and minimal discomfort from this condition. In fact, he feels it is more of a nuisance having to urinate frequently.
His urologist recommends GreenLight laser surgery to relieve the problem. He has been told that this condition, if left untreated, could lead to kidney problems and/or a blood infection. He is fearful that the surgery could lead to incontinence. This thought distresses him greatly. What is your opinion of this option for treating his problem? Are there other options he could consider?
DEAR READER: GreenLight vaporization of the prostate is a new, minimally invasive procedure used for treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), the most common cause of an enlarged prostate. A laser-light source and fiber-optic delivery system vaporizes and removes enlarged tissue in the prostate, resulting in immediate relief of symptoms. Urinary flow will improve, and a person will be able to empty the bladder with ease. This is a vast improvement over the “gold standard” trans-urethral resection procedure (TURP) with fewer side effects and faster recovery. Total recovery should take a few weeks following surgery. With GreenLight, a patient will arrive at a hospital, have the procedure, which takes less than an hour, and be discharged the same day. It is rather common to return home without catheter insertion. In instances when a catheter is inserted, it is removed within 24 hours.
As General Electric once used in their advertising, “Progress is our most important product.” This certainly appears to be the case with GreenLight. Research is a phenomenal thing. If a procedure can be done in less time, with less bleeding, less trauma for the patient and faster recovery, I’m all for it. And, at 93, I am sure that your father would agree.
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