PROF ANTONIO RUFFO
Specialist in Urology
Andrology Genital and Urethral Recostructive Surgery
mobile +39 3511718896
Prostate vaporization with green laser (green-light laser)
This mini-invasive laser treatment is performed for the treatment of Benign Prostatic Hypertrophy. The laser fiber, introduced from the penis into the urethra through a thin instrument, very precisely vaporizes the Prostatic Adenoma without causing bleeding. Most patients go home after one night of hospitalization and resume their normal activities within a week. Green-light does not cause bleeding as it results in immediate tissue vaporization, does not cause urinary incontinence, impotence and prevents recurrence.
Which patient is a candidate for Green-light Laser Vaporization of the prostate?
The procedure is indicated in all cases of symptomatic Prostatic Hypertrophy, with prostate gland up to 100 g in volume.
Due to the absence of bleeding, the green laser allows for safe surgery even on high-risk patients such as those with cardiovascular disease or on anticoagulant medication, who can now be operated on without any longer suspending therapy as is always required for surgery.
What will I have to do before following a Green Light Laser Prostate Vaporization (Green Light) ?
The patient before surgery will undergo a thorough urological check :
Urological examination with rectal exploration : allows appreciation of the dimenisons and consistency of the prostate to highlight the presence of hard, uneven areas suspicious of a gland tumor
Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) assay. This test is also important to rule out the presence of a neoplasm ( a high PSA, >4ng/dl may be suspicious)
Transrectal prostate ultrasound : With this method, the size of the prostate gland and the presence of suspicious areas for cancer are more precisely defined
Urinalysis : Allows the presence of any urinary tract infections to be detected
Uroflowmetry : This test represents the simplest and most emno invasive urodynamic investigation : the patient will have to urinate into a special toilet-like instrument connected to the computer that analyzes the urinary flow
Urodynamic examination : This test allows us to highlight the presence of functional disorders of the bladder, in particular to distinguish a deficit of bladder contractility from mechanical obstruction to emptying
What is the duration of Prostate Enucleation surgery ?
Yes usually the surgery takes 30 to 60 minutes
What type of anesthesia is performed ?
The surgery is almost always performed under locoregional 'spinal' anesthesia, only in some cases when the patient's condition does not allow it is general anesthesia preferred
How long will I have to wear the catheter and after how long can I return home ?
Catheter removal occurs at discharge 24 hours after surgery
What are the risks of this type of surgery ?
The risks are the same as other endoscopic prostate surgeries (TURP, ThuLEP, HoLEP) but significantly lower than traditional open surgery.
No risk of bleeding with possibility of not discontinuing anticoagulant and/or antiplatelet therapies make it the Gold-standard for elderly and heart patients
After how many days will I be able to return to work?
You can usually return to work one week after surgery
After how many days will I be able to return to normal sexual activity?
A period of 4 weeks without sexual intercourse is recommended
