Royal Surrey launches pioneering laser treatment
It will help patients with enlarged prostates
The Urology Team at Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust have launched a pioneering treatment for benign prostate enlargement.
The treatment will use laser light transmitted by optical fibres to create cavities that help shrink the size of the prostate. This reduces the compression on a patient’s bladder to relieve urinary problems and improve quality of life.
Benign prostate enlargement is a common condition affecting men as they age, causing symptoms that impact on a patient’s quality of life, such as frequent urination, difficulty urinating, interruption to flow, and needing to get up in the night repeatedly to urinate.
Dimitrios Moschonas, Consultant Urological Surgeon and Clinical Director of Urology , said:
“This minimally invasive procedure benefits our patients in many ways by facilitating rapid recovery, reducing side effects such as damage to healthy tissue, and ensuring that there is little or no risk to sexual function.
“Previously our patients would have had the treatment under general anaesthetic and faced an overnight hospital stay, now they are able to go home within an hour of having the procedure. It’s also an efficient way to help elderly patients who may not be suitable for other treatment options. It’s a win, win situation.”
One of the first Royal Surrey patients to benefit from the procedure was Ivor Barrett:
“The procedure was quick, painless and minimally invasive and my recovery has been very rapid and straightforward. I came in on a Friday morning at 7am and I was home by lunchtime. I felt a bit rough on Saturday but was feeling fine by Sunday. I’ve been advised that I wouldn’t see the maximum benefit until about three months after the procedure but there is already an improvement and I’m feeling very positive.
The new treatment comes thanks to a donation from the Prostate Project charity, making Royal Surrey one of just a handful of UK NHS Trusts offering the EchoLaser treatment.