Ablative Treatments

Ablation Therapy

Among prostate diseases, which in Türkiye affect about one in three men, especially those over 50, the most common is prostate enlargement.

A non-surgical micro-procedure for prostate enlargement
Prostate enlargement is one of the most dangerous conditions men face. A nightmare for men, prostate enlargement can progress to advanced stages and cause much bigger problems if left untreated. ‘Prostate laser ablation therapy,’ a micro-invasive, non-surgical technique considered one of the most up-to-date methods for treating prostate enlargement, has started to be used in Türkiye.

IT ELIMINATES RISKS

Medication is used first in treatment, but if symptoms cannot be relieved with medication, surgery is used. In surgery, open prostatectomy began to be performed in past years. This technique later evolved and diversified. The difficulty of prostate surgery and the problems patients experienced drove the continuous evolution of urology, and endoscopic surgery and minimally invasive surgical techniques came into use. In recent years, micro-invasive treatment, which has now also started to be used in Türkiye, has been developed.
Because the urinary channel is not used in this treatment, risks originating from the urinary channel, such as blockage, infection and damage to sexual function, are largely eliminated. This is perhaps an advantage of prostate laser ablation therapy.

FEW SIDE EFFECTS

The patient's expectations and age are important criteria. Not every prostate enlargement requires treatment. Patients are usually given medication. However, side effects can occur with long-term medication use. For example, erection problems and ejaculation disorders may occur. For reasons like these, medication may be abandoned. When planning treatment, all conditions need to be evaluated in detail. Urethral stricture is an adverse clinical condition that can happen to a man. Ejaculation disorders and erectile dysfunction should also be considered in treatment planning. Considering possible side effects like these, prostate laser ablation therapy is preferred because of its few side effects.

NO PAIN OR SCARRING

Prostate patients worry about the risk of bleeding, impaired sexual function and urinary incontinence. Bleeding during surgery and the risk of urethral stricture are worrying. Therefore, treatment needs to address these concerns. Prostate laser ablation largely addresses these concerns. The treatment is advantageous for elderly patients who cannot receive anesthesia. The general absence of pain and scarring is also an advantage. The treatment does not need to take place in an operating room. This has a positive effect on the patient's psychology. The patient's quick return to work is another advantage.
Especially these days, when the effects of the pandemic continue, no hospital stay or only a short one helps prevent the risk of transmission and infection.

THE PROCEDURE TAKES 30 MINUTES

In medicine, including urology, the trend is toward minimally invasive treatments. Advances in technology, greater communication between people and increased opportunities for research and communication have also triggered the development of different treatment methods. Fewer skin incisions, a shorter hospital stay and a quick return to work are priorities for today's patients. As humanity speeds up, the healthcare sector speeds up too. From the physicians' point of view, prostate laser ablation is considered easy to perform. Applying the ablation needles through the skin takes 5–10 minutes, and the bilateral laser procedure takes about 14 minutes. In total, it is a procedure that takes at most 30 minutes.