New Laser Prostate Surgery
The prostate is a gland near the bladder that surrounds the urethra, through which urine passes out. For reasons unknown, most men’s prostates enlarge with age, and can press on the urethra, blocking urine flow. One in three men develops urination problems in their lifetime. Of these, about a third need surgery, while the rest need no treatment or use drugs. The standard surgery involves scraping out the gland’s swollen parts, using a metal loop charged with an electrical current, to widen the urethra. This causes bleeding severe enough that about 5 per cent of patients need blood transfusions. A new laser prostate surgery will cause less bleeding as it seals the blood vessels at the same time that it vaporises the tissue.