When a patient presents with moderate to severe urinary symptoms, a doctor orders some tests, including one for a possible enlarged prostate. If benign prostatic hyperplasia is the cause of urinary symptoms, a doctor orders laser prostate surgery. The procedure is excellent at shrinking or removing excess tissues since a scope targets laser energy to an enlarged prostate. Notably, most patients know little about laser prostate surgery; therefore, it is essential to familiarise yourself with the basics. This article highlights answers to some of the frequently asked questions about the procedure.
Are Post Surgery Infections Common? — Laser prostate surgery is like any other advanced surgical procedure where surgeons emphasise keeping infections at bay. However, while post-surgery infections are not very common, doctors do not rule them out completely. Therefore, infections can still occur in the urinary system following a laser prostatectomy procedure. It is why a doctor prescribes antibiotics to prevent or fight off potential infections. Signs of post-surgery infection include difficulty urinating or burning sensation, frequent urination and prolonged fevers. When you experience such symptoms, see a doctor immediately.
Is Laser Prostatectomy the Safest Procedure? — Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), transurethral microwave therapy (TUMT), transurethral needle ablation (TUNA) and laser surgery are some of the prostate surgeries that doctors can recommend. While all the procedures are designed to be safe for a patient, surgeons consider laser prostatectomy the safest for several reasons. First, a laser scope seals blood vessels as it cuts off excess prostate tissue, ensuring minimal bleeding, especially for elderly patients. Second, laser prostatectomy does not use electricity, allowing surgeons to use saline, safer than glycine, as an irrigation fluid. Additionally, the risk of post-surgery incontinence is significantly reduced with laser prostatectomy since the procedure is much more accurate and precise. Most importantly, it makes it easy for a surgeon to see and avoid injuring the sphincter valve.
Does Laser Prostatectomy Affect Sexual Function? — Most patients who have to undergo laser prostate surgery often worry about their sexual function post-surgery. You will be glad to know that the procedure has a minimal effect, if any, on sexual function in young patients. However, older patients who have started showing signs of erectile dysfunction might suffer from decreased sexual function post-surgery. The good news is that the risk of erectile dysfunction is quite rare with laser prostatectomy than with other open surgeries. Thus, you need not worry about the effect of laser prostate surgery on sexual function, whether you are elderly or young because the risk is relatively low.
Share14 January 2022
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