Enlarged prostate is a fairly common problem in men over the age of 50. In some cases, pharmacological or, worse, surgical treatment may be necessary to solve the problem that often causes nocturnal awakenings and the desire to urinate during the night. But some researchers have managed to find a minimally invasive and totally revolutionary treatment that could reduce the severity of the condition in minutes. Here’s what it is. Steam jets against prostatic hypertrophy, or enlarged prostate
Men who suffer from prostatic hypertrophy know that one of the most common symptoms is the repeated desire to go to the bathroom at night. When it is time to urinate, however, one realizes that there was very little pee. To remedy the problem, there are various medicinal treatments or surgery, but now – thanks to the invention of some scientists – everything could become much easier. The idea is to inject jets of steam in order to reduce prostate enlargement. The reason for the symptoms of prostate enlargement
The enlarged prostate causes greater pressure on the bladder, leading – in some cases – to a small blockage of the urethra. This is why you feel like you have to urinate even though you don’t really need to. It is important to note that an enlarged prostate is in no way linked to an increased risk of cancer. However, some people may find it more difficult to urinate by causing toxins to build up in the kidney. In this case, the only solution may be a surgery called transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP). The operation for an enlarged prostate: the risks
Few men are willing to perform this type of surgery because, while effective, it could cause a noticeable loss of sexual function, as well as bleeding and incontinence. Conversely, the steam jet treatment – called Rezum – causes a shrinkage of the prostate with almost no side effects. How Rezum works for the prostate
Rezum is performed under local anesthesia combined with a little sedation. During surgery, steam is injected into the prostate for nine seconds at one minute intervals. To do this, a thin tube inserted into the urethra is used. The aim is to eliminate part of the prostate tissue and reduce the size of the gland. The Rezum tests
Several tests have recently been conducted at the Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust in London and at the Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. The results obtained were more than satisfactory. Intended for many men with prostate problems
“A huge group of men could benefit from this treatment,” explains Dr Hashim Ahmed, surgeon surgeon at Charing Cross Hospital. The doctor believes that steam jets will soon completely replace traditional surgery. “There is a large group of men who are so concerned about the side effects of a traditional operation that they are suffering without treatment, or are relying on drugs and their side effects.” Less healthcare costs
Rezum, conceived by the US company NxThera, according to experts could also significantly reduce healthcare costs. “It frees up huge resources of the NHS because it takes much less time to do it,” Ahmed continues. Another advantage is that the traditional operation lasts an average of an hour and a half and could require hospitalization for up to and three days, while Rezum only takes five minutes and recovery is immediate. Without considering that the percentage of prostate reduction (on average 36%) is identical to traditional surgery. “We have seen zero incontinence and practically zero impotence. And you recover faster, which means you can get back to work and get on with your life. ” And the times
The only drawback of the steam treatment is the timing. It may take three weeks to two months to see improvements. On the other hand, those who have tried the treatment seem to have been more than satisfied. One of these is Mr. Chris Allard, who has been struggling with the problem of an enlarged prostate for almost twenty years. The drugs worked a little but caused several side effects. He then decided to try this new type of steam jet intervention. “I was sedated and didn’t feel any physical discomfort. Symptoms have drastically reduced. I don’t need to go to the bathroom like I used to and this also helped me sleep much better, ”Allard concludes.
