To treat your enlarged prostate gland and relieve symptoms, your doctor may recommend laser prostatectomy. A laser (concentrated light energy) is used to destroy the part of the enlarged prostate gland squeezing the urethra. Since the laser destroys the obstructing prostate tissue, it can’t be examined for signs of cancer. Your doctor will rule out the possibility of cancer before the procedure is performed.
Procedure Preparations
The night prior to your procedure, don’t eat or drink anything after midnight .
Your bladder and urethra may be numbed (with local anesthesia), or your body below the waist may be numbed (regional anesthesia), or you may be fully asleep (general anesthesia).
An intravenous (IV) tube provides you with fluids and medication.
During the Procedure
The procedure generally takes about 45 minutes.
The doctor inserts a cystoscope (thin, tubelike telescope) through the urethral opening in your penis and into your urethra. Your doctor can view your urethra and prostate, either through the cystoscope or on a video monitor.
Through the cystoscope, the laser is inserted to the area of the prostate. The laser is then used to destroy excess prostate tissue.
This treatment frequently causes swelling. To help your bladder drain, a catheter may be inserted temporarily into your urethra or directly into your bladder .
Side Effect: Retrograde Ejaculation
When a muscle involved in ejaculation must be cut during surgery, semen may travel into the bladder rather than out of the penis during ejaculation. This is called retrograde ejaculation, resulting in little or no semen when you ejaculate. This is harmless, and the feeling of orgasm won’t change. Retrograde ejaculation may also be a side effect with certain medications.
Possible Complications and Risks
- Bleeding
- Infection
- Pneumonia
- Blood clot
- Urethra scarring
- Only partial relief of symptoms
- Erectile dysfunction (rare)
- Loss of bladder control (very rare)