Prostatic urethral lift can help most men with BPH symptoms. However, a small number of men (fewer than 10%) have a prostate that is not the right size or shape for the prostatic urethral lift procedure. Your doctor will be able to determine whether you are eligible for it.
The prostatic urethral lift is a set of permanent implants that hold back the prostate gland lobes. Once the implants are in place, the lobes don’t press on the urethra and urine can flow easily. The implants are made out of surgical steel.
The prostatic urethral lift procedure is usually done with local anesthesia in an outpatient setting, such as your doctor’s office. Local anesthesia numbs the area where the doctor performs the procedure. With local anesthesia, you stay awake during the procedure.
If needed, the procedure can be done in a hospital under general anesthesia. When you receive general anesthesia, you are not awake during the procedure. You and your doctor can discuss the best location for your procedure based on your needs and preferences.
During the procedure, your doctor will insert a thin, lighted tube (cystoscope) through your urethra. Your doctor will then insert the implants through the cystoscope. The device includes a needle that holds the implants.
Once the implants are in place, your doctor will insert the needle through the urethra and into the prostate. The needle then deploys the implant — a small, T-shaped brace made of surgical steel. The end of the brace catches on the outside of the prostate gland. The device then adds a small clip on the inside of the urethra to hold the implant in place.
After adding the implant to one side of the prostate, your doctor will repeat the process on the other side. Most men receive four to six implants, with two to three implants on each side of the prostate.
The procedure usually takes less than an hour and doesn’t require an overnight hospital stay. Most men can return to normal activities within a week.
Many men with BPH use medicines to control symptoms. However, these medicines can cause side effects like dizziness, nasal congestion and sexual dysfunction. These medicines also stop working when the man stops taking them, which means many men must choose between unpleasant side effects or BPH symptoms.
With the prostatic urethral lift, patients don’t experience these unpleasant side effects, and most men notice BPH symptoms go away within 30 days.
Studies have also shown that the prostatic urethral lift has fewer side effects compared to transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), which is a surgical procedure used to treat BPH. TURP can cause side effects like sexual dysfunction and incontinence. Because of where the prostatic urethral lift implants are placed on the prostate, they are less likely to damage nerves and cause these problems.
Most major insurance providers cover the procedure, including Medicare and Medicaid. However, it’s important to check with your insurance provider on your specific coverage.
Although the implants are made of surgical steel, they won’t set off a metal detector. You can also safely undergo MRIs and other imaging tests.
The Center of Excellence for this procedure is a urologist who has a high level of experience and training with the system. These urologists perform more of these procedures compared to the average urologist and have a higher rate of positive patient outcomes. They must also undergo re-certification and training on the Prostatic urethral lift system every year.
Orlando Health is the only organization in the Orlando area with physicians who have been named as a Center of Excellence for this procedure.
Orlando Health nurses and technicians have also received specialized training in the treatment, which helps improve patient safety, experience and outcomes.