These generally tend to be far more effective that the oral medicines but some can carry greater risks. They include:
Thermotherapy
In Thermotherapy, heat is applied to the prostate to destroy the prostate tissue. Heat can be applied using several different sources, including microwave energy as with Thermatrx Dose Optimize Thermotherapy (DOT). The heat causes changes in the prostate tissue and results in improvement of symptoms. There is no cutting or incision. Oral drugs are given to help you relax and the procedure is well tolerated. Most patients have only minor discomfort. You may have a urine drainage catheter 2-5 days after treatment. The Thermatrx system continues to measure the prostate temperature to ensure you are given the optimal “dose of heat”. The procedure is done in the doctor’s office and takes about 90 minutes. No hospital stay is required. No sexual side affects have been reported. Your doctor will perform tests to see if it is the right treatment option for you. Medicare and most private insurance plans cover Thermatrx.
Advantages of Thermatrx include long lasting symptom relief, and it is an alternative to cost, side effects and inconvenience of other therapies. In clinical trials, patients did not report incontinence or retrograde ejaculation as a result of the treatment. It had minor short term side effects only which usually went away on their own and id does not effect one’s ability to take ED medications. It is FDA approved as safe and effective.
Dr. Eid specializes in Thermatrx Dose Optimized Thermotherapy.
Urethral Stent
Urethral stent is a mesh tube that holds the urethra open at the point of obstruction. It immediately improves the flow of urine. The stent is placed through the procedure in an out-patient procedure. It has been clinically proven to maintain these results over the long term. No catheter is required after most procedures. It is fully incorporated within the body. This procedure is easy and safe and can be done under local anesthesia but is usually reserved for cases of recurrent stricture of the bladder opening.
Transurethral Microwave Therapy (TUMT)
In Transurethral Microwave Therapy, an instrument called an antenna, that send out microwave energy is inserted though the urethra to a location inside the prostate. The temperature becomes high enough inside the prostate to kill the extra tissue. As this part of the prostate heals, it shrinks, reducing the blockage of urine flow. This is an out patient procedure done under general or spinal anesthesia. The main complication of TUMP is the inability to urinate for more than a week but can be treated by inserting a catheter.
The Urolift® Prostate Urethral Lift
The prostate urethral lift is a novel approach to relieve urinary symptoms such as frequency and difficulty of urination caused by an enlarged prostate. The Urolift® System treatment is a minimally invasive approach that lifts the enlarged prostate out of the way so it no longer blocks urine flow. Small implants are installed without surgery or cutting through the penis to hold open the prostate lobes. Read more about this innovative treatment here.