Greenslopes gets the green light for the treatment of enlarged prostate Greenslopes Private Hospital is one of the first private hospitals in Queensland to offer Green Light Laser Therapy for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia also known as an enlarged prostate. Almost half of all men over the age of 60 suffer from benign prostatic hyperplasia or BPH. This age- related enlargement of the prostate gland is not malignant but causes a number of troublesome urinary symptoms. As the prostate grows, it compresses the tube called the urethra which drains urine from the bladder and interferes with the normal flow of urine. Men suffering from this condition typically experience at least one of a number of symptoms which can disrupt their lifestyle by interfering with their usual daily activities. BPH symptoms include frequent urination, a weakened urinary stream, the need to get up at night to pass urine and a feeling that the bladder has not been “This technology has been tried and tested Not all patients with urinary flow problems completely emptied. over the last 16 years and patients can now are suitable candidates at present but the new Historically, BPH has been treated with benefit from the experience and credibility procedure can generally be used on those who that has been established with this procedure,” would previously have been treated with a TURP. medication in the early stages or by having an operation known as a transurethral resection of Dr Campbell said. Patients are referred by their GPs to a urologist who will base the method of treatment on a the prostate (or TURP) if the condition becomes more severe. clinical evaluation.“It is wonderful to be able to now offer the Green Light Laser Therapy to patients in The surgery involves cutting away slices of the private hospital setting. This is leading Dr Campbell believes GreenLight Laser the enlarged gland to relieve the pressure on the technology that provides patients with an Therapy will become the standard treatment urethra at the neck of the bladder. TURP is an alternative that is less invasive and is a virtually of the future and most prostate surgery will be effective treatment for BPH because it provides bloodless procedure.” done this way. long-lasting relief of symptoms. GreenLight Laser Therapy is a procedure For a list of Urologists at Greenslopes However the operation involves staying performed with a small fibre that is inserted in Private visit Our Specialists page at in hospital for 2–3 nights and because of the to the urethra through as cystoscope. The fibre www.greenslopesprivate.com.au risk of bleeding in the post-operative period, delivers high powered laser energy which quickly it is necessary to stop taking blood thinning heats up the prostate tissue, causing the tissue medication prior to surgery. to vapourise. This process is continued until all of the enlarged prostate tissue has been removed. The advantage of GreenLight Laser Therapy is Natural urine flow is rapidly restored and that it provides a less invasive surgical alternative urinary systems are quickly relieved in most that is just as effective but has far fewer side effects than conventional TURP surgery. Instead patients. Some of the other benefits of cutting away sections of the enlarged prostate of the procedure are reduced bleeding gland, the doctor inserts a telescope up the and a quick return to normal activities. urethra to the level of the prostate then guides The length of the hospital stay is a laser fibre through the scope. reduced from the usual two to three- nights following a TURP to just an The prostate tissue that is obstructing the overnight stay. outlet of the bladder is then vaporised into gas using a high powered laser. The treatment is much Another major benefit of the less traumatic than conventional surgery because laser treatment is that it can be used it involves no cutting. on patients who take anti-coagulant medication. Traditionally drugs such Now, Urologists at Greenslopes Private Hospital as warfarin must be stopped prior to can offer patients suffering from enlarged surgery because of the increased risk prostate access to this advanced treatment option. of bleeding during the operation – but Greenslopes Urologist, Dr Peter Campbell who stopping the medication can increase other has been working with this technology for more vascular risks. This aspect is of particular than two years in the public sector is one of several importance because the population who are urologists now offering Green Light Laser Therapy most likely to be on anticoagulants are the same at Greenslopes Private Hospital. over-60 year olds who typically suffer from BPH. Above Insert: Left to Right Urologists Dr Greg Malone, (2nd from left GreenLight Laser Representative), Dr John Preston, Dr Malcolm Lawson, Dr Peter Heathcote, Dr Kate Gray, Dr Peter Campbell and Dr Glen Wood. Above: The GreenLight Laser in action. GPHnews 11
GPH News Winter 2012
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