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Prostate Laser Procedures

Physicians perform prostate laser surgery procedures when a patient is suffering from an enlarged prostate. Laser surgery will relieve signs of an enlarged prostate, such as needing to urinate frequently, having multiple urinary tract infections and developing bladder stones. There are several types of procedures surgeons can perform, depending on the patient's signs and symptoms, as well as the patient's overall medical condition.

  1. Photosensitive vaporization of prostate

    • One procedure to help alleviate a swollen prostate is to use heat and vaporization through hot laser energy. Patients who undergo photosensitive vaporization of the prostate typically do not have as much of a risk of bleeding and have a short recovery time, according to the Mayo Clinic. Photosensitive vaporization of the prostate is a type of laser ablation, which burns tissue that is obstructive. This then enlarges the prostate's urinary channel.

    Holmium laser ablation

    • Similar to the photosensitive vaporization method, holmium laser ablation instead uses a different source of energy. The laser energy used in this procedure is absorbed by water, which increases precision and prevents injury deep in the patient's tissues. Surgeons also use holmium laser ablation when treating other medical ailments, such as kidney tumors, urethral stones and urinary system scarring. According to the Mayo Clinic, this type of laser procedure is used when the patient has a smaller prostate.

    Interstitial laser coagulation

    • Interstitial laser coagulation is also a type of laser procedure that reduces an enlarged prostate using a fiber optic tube. The laser's heat destroys cells in the prostate, creating scars that open the urinary channel by shrinking the prostate. However, according to the Mayo Clinic, this procedure is most often performed on men who have prostates that are only slightly or moderately enlarged. This procedure also may require more future follow-up visits and treatment than other laser procedure options.

    Holmium laser enucleation

    • Holmium laser enucleation is a type of laser procedure that removes obstructive tissue using an instrument that grinds tissue into fragments that are easily removed. This type of procedure can be used on various sizes of prostates, and according to the Mayo Clinic, may have the most favorable results of the different types of laser procedures. However, because it is so specialized, patients may have more difficulty finding a surgeon with the capabilities of performing this type of procedure.

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