GreenLight Laser Prostatectomy

GreenLight laser prostatectomy is a minimally invasive, highly effective treatment for men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), or enlarged prostate.

Although it is a benign (not cancerous) condition that becomes more common as men age, BPH can be distressing. As the prostate gland enlarges, it squeezes the urethra, the tunnel that carries urine from the bladder out through the penis.

Signs of BPH are:

• urgent or frequent need to urinate during the day and at night
• a slow or weak urinary stream
• difficulty completely emptying the bladder
• difficulty or delay in starting urination
• a urinary stream that starts and stops

When medical management of BPH symptoms is ineffective or the side effects of medications cannot be tolerated, men may choose a surgical procedure to correct the problem.

How GreenLight Laser Prostatectomy Works

GreenLight laser prostatectomy is a procedure in which the excess prostate tissue is removed to relieve constriction of the urethra, allowing easy passage of urine.

During the procedure, which is also known as photoselective vaporization of the prostate (PVP), the patient is sedated. The physician passes a cystoscope, a thin tube with a very small camera, into the urethra, the vessel that carries urine from the bladder through the penis and out of the body. A small fiber that transmits laser energy is then passed through the cystoscope.

The laser is used to vaporize excess prostate tissue that is limiting the flow of urine. Most patients can expect very rapid relief of their BPH symptoms, often within 24 hours of GreenLight Laser prostatectomy.

For most men, GreenLight laser prostatectomy is an outpatient procedure, allowing them to return home the same day.

More Information about GreenLight Laser Therapy for BPH

To find out if you are a candidate for GreenLight laser prostatectomy, or to refer a patient, contact the Minimally Invasive Urology Institute at 401-793-5400 or email [email protected].