The Prostate > BPH > Treatment > Minimally invasive treatments
Minimally invasive treatments are relatively new and as yet they do not seem to work as well as the more traditional treatments. However, with fast moving modern technology and increasing experience, these treatments are becoming much more relevant. Two that deserve a mention are transurethral microwave thermotherapy and laser therapy.
Transurethral microwave thermotherapy:
This involves using microwave energy to generate heat, which then destroys some of the prostate tissue. Under local anaesthetic, the microwave device is inserted up through the urethra inside a catheter; the temperature of surrounding tissues is monitored using a probe inserted in the back passage.
Holmium laser enucleation and tissue morcellation:
This is carried out under general anaesthetic and is particularly suited to men who have a large prostate but would like to avoid transuretheral surgery. A laser probe is inserted up through the urethra, and the laser energy it generates destroys some of the prostate tissue. Catheterization is necessary for a few days afterwards in a similar fashion to TURP.