The medical technology revolution has given new mantras to the healthcare industry. Technological advancements have evolved the healthcare industry in a way that is minimally painful and profitable for patients. 

Earlier complicated surgeries used to be the only resort to treat any disease, but now technology has completely changed the scenario of available treatment options. This massive change is witnessed in the treatment of BPH (Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia) too. 

The tech-evolved healthcare industry is now capable of providing minimally invasive therapies to surgical options depending on the requirement, saving patients from unnecessary pain and complications.

What is BPH or Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia?

Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, commonly called BPH, is a urological disease affecting older men worldwide. It is a condition in which the prostate gland of men is enlarged, pushing the bladder and urethra ultimately affecting or blocking the flow of urine. 

If left untreated, hypertrophy of the prostate may result in a sudden inability to urinate, urinary tract infections, bladder infections, or kidney damage. Therefore, it is important to consider the severity of BPH symptoms, consult a urologist and take the necessary course of action prescribed by the doctor.

Finding the ideal treatment for BPH

Digitization and technological development in the healthcare sector has paved the way for multiple treatment options. There are several effective BPH treatments available out there, but not everyone is aware of them.

From medications to MIST therapies, the nature of BPH treatments has recently seen major transformations. As a doctor, it is important to provide all the available treatment plans to patients, so that they can select the ideal one from them. However, it depends on the condition of the patient, to decide which treatment will suit the requirements.

For men with prostate blockage, different treatments or therapies have been around for centuries, but what new is available for you in current times is something that we will be exploring in this article.

1. MIST- Minimally Invasive Surgical Therapies

MIST treatments for benign prostate hyperplasia can be performed right in the doctor's office to eliminate excess prostate tissue. Patients with mild to moderate BPH can often be adequately treated with MIST options rather than with medications or surgery, which have associated risks and side effects. 

Minimally invasive surgical procedures have been developed as a bridge to lessen the invasiveness of BPH treatment to decrease morbidity and dysfunction caused by invasive surgical procedures. It is an umbrella therapy under which all minimally invasive surgical therapies fall, for example, Urolift, PUL, etc.

2. Urolift or PUL (Prostatic Urethral Lift)

The urolift technique and PUL therapy are synonymous with each other. They are a novel method adapted for BPH treatment with proven robust data of more than 5 years. It is a minimally invasive method of treating an enlarged prostate by keeping the prostate out of the way so that it no longer blocks the urethra. No cutting, heating, or removal of prostate tissue is involved. 

Unlike medications or surgery, it offers a mechanical solution to the mechanical problem. In this procedure, a non-absorbable, multiple monofilament suture is placed into the prostatic urethra and the lateral lobes, then tied together to form a large urethral channel. It offers rapid relief and recovery to BPH patients. It can get men off BPH medications and avoid major surgery.

3. TURP- Transurethral resection of the prostate

It is a surgical method of treatment that involves cutting away a section of the prostate. A hypertrophic prostate can be treated with a TURP procedure when medications fail to relieve the troublesome symptoms. 

During a TURP procedure, a resectoscope, a slender metal tube containing a light, camera, and wire loop, is used. This is inserted through your urethra until it reaches your prostate, so no skin cuts are required. However, the patient might have to carry a catheter from 3 to 7 days post-discharge from the hospital.

4. Laser Treatments for BPH

Laser treatments have gained a lot of encouragement as BPH treatment techniques. There is a holmium laser technique, laser vaporization green light under BPH laser therapies. Surgeons using the Greenlight Photoselective Vaporization of the Prostate (PVP) procedure thread a thin tube, known as a cystoscope, into the urethra and up into the enlarged prostate. 

The holmium laser is a urological surgical laser that has been especially effective in performing several types of urological surgeries. The laser is utilized in HoLEP to cut and remove the bulky prostate tissue that is obstructing urine flow.

5. Surgical Methods

There will be some subset of people who might need a particular type of therapy or treatment only. For instance, if a patient has a severe BPH condition then maybe major surgery will be the only available treatment for that patient.

6. Drug Therapy or Medications

Medications or Drug therapies are one of the most common ways to treat men with mild to moderate BPH symptoms. Alpha-blockers and 5-Alpha Reductase Inhibitors are used mainly to treat patients with BPH conditions.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are of the author and not of Medical Dialogues. The Editorial/Content team of Medical Dialogues has not contributed to the writing/editing/packaging of this article.