A new low-temperature plasma technology promises less invasive treatment for men with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), or enlarged prostate.
The PlasmaButton Vaporisation Electrode developed by Olympus allows surgeons to literally vaporize the enlarged prostate tissue quickly, safely and virtually bloodlessly, with minimal damage to healthy tissue.
BPH affects about one third of men over the age of 50 and half of those over 70 and is the most common non-malignant disease of the prostate. Symptoms can include frequent and painful urination and, if left untreated, it can cause severe urinary tract infections, or even renal failure.
Conventional surgical treatment known as TURP (transurethral resection of prostate) involves removing part of the prostate through the urethra using cutting loops or lasers. While the outcome for the majority of patients receiving TURP is considered excellent, the number one risk associated with the procedure is bleeding, which makes it unsafe for many patients with cardiac problems.