This procedure uses a high-energy laser to carefully vaporize extra prostate tissue. It is less invasive than traditional methods of prostate surgery with less blood loss.
This surgery is used to treat an enlarged prostate gland (benign prostatic hyperplasia).
Tell a health care provider about any:
- Allergies you have.
- Medicines you are taking, including vitamins, herbs, eye drops, creams, and over-the-counter medicines.
- Problems you or family members have had with anesthetic medicines.
- Blood disorders you have.
- Surgeries you have had.
- Medical conditions you have.
Potential Risks
- Infection.
- Bleeding.
- Allergic reaction to medicines.
- Damage to other structures or organs.
- Blood in the urine (hematuria).
- Painful urination.
- Urinary tract infection.
- Erectile dysfunction (rare).
- Dry ejaculation.
- Scar tissue in the urinary passage.
Procedure Prep
- Follow instructions from your health care provider about eating or drinking restrictions.
- Ask your health care provider about:
- Changing or stopping your regular medicines. This is especially important if you are taking diabetes medicines or blood thinners.
- Taking medicines such as aspirin and ibuprofen. These medicines can thin your blood. Do not give these medicines before the procedure unless directed by your health care provider.
- You may be prescribed antibiotic medicine. If so, take your antibiotic as told by your health care provider. Do not stop taking the antibiotic even if you start to feel better.
- Plan to have someone take you home after the procedure. If you will be going home right after the procedure, plan to have someone with you for 24 hours.
What Happens During The Procedure?
- You will be given one or more of the following:
- A medicine to help you relax (sedative).
- A medicine to make you fall asleep (general anesthetic).
- A medicine that is injected into your spine to numb the area below and slightly above the injection site (spinal anesthetic).
- A tube containing viewing scopes and instruments (fiber-optic scope) will be inserted through your penis.
- A thin fiber will be put through the tube and positioned next to the extra prostate tissue.
- Pulses of laser light will come from the end of the fiber and be projected onto the extra tissue. Your blood will absorb the light, become hot, and vaporize the extra prostate tissue.
- The heat from the laser beam will seal off the blood vessels, which will lessen bleeding.
- The fiber-optic scope will be removed and replaced with a temporary tube (catheter) that is used to help urine flow.
Post Procedure Care
- Your blood pressure, heart rate, breathing rate, and blood oxygen level will be monitored until the medicines you were given have worn off.
- Depending on factors such as the amount of prostate tissue that was vaporized, the strength of your bladder, and the amount of bleeding expected, your catheter may be removed.
- You may be given elastic support stockings to wear to help prevent blood clots in your legs.
- Do not drive for 24 hours if you were given a sedative, or for as long as directed by your health care provider.
This information is not intended to replace advice given to you by your health care provider.