BBC Information NI well being reporter
BBCProblem peeing, a frequent must go to the bathroom and bother emptying their bladder – these are simply among the issues residing with an enlarged prostate can convey males.
Simply ask David Fleming, from east Belfast, who has been residing with one for various years and was one among about 1,000 males on a ready listing for bladder outlet surgical procedure.
If left untreated, an enlarged prostate can result in extra extreme signs equivalent to acute urinary retention and infections – which is why getting that ready listing down is so essential.
Luckily a brand new remedy – or extra particularly, a brand new robotic expertise – is providing hope that these males might be handled sooner somewhat than later.
Mr Fleming himself was delighted to be one of many first to endure aquablation therapy on the Ulster Hospital.
The remedy, the primary of its type throughout the island of Eire, is a minimally-invasive process that makes use of a heat-free waterjet to take away extra prostate tissue, which Mr Fleming mentioned will make a giant distinction to his life.
The 64-year-old’s situation, also referred to as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), worsened early this 12 months and his difficulties peeing led to a catheter being fitted.
However this new remedy will “type the prostate out in order that the move shall be good sooner or later”.
Mr Fleming mentioned his situation was being managed by remedy till December however then it “took on a lifetime of its personal”.
“I might have been waking each hour at evening, each hour and a half, so I actually wasn’t getting a lot sleep and was actually fairly drained,” he mentioned.
Now, the process ought to resolve the difficulty, make sure the catheter is eliminated and provides him “an excellent high quality of life in relation to what I’ve had beforehand”.
Mr Fleming hopes, come his sixty fifth birthday in September, he shall be “a brand new man”.
How does aquablation remedy work?
Whereas there are a number of benign prostate therapies accessible, this remedy significantly helps males experiencing urinary issues as a consequence of an enlarged prostate.
Till now, males with a really enlarged prostate needed to journey to England for remedy or have extra complicated or invasive surgical procedure in Northern Eire.
However this robotic expertise eliminates the necessity for invasive prostate surgical procedure.
It makes use of image-guided, high-velocity water jets to exactly take away extra prostate tissue.
Actual-time ultrasound imaging helps the surgeon map and direct the water jet with accuracy, avoiding harm to close by nerves and buildings accountable for sexual perform and continence.
In contrast to conventional procedures, no warmth is concerned, considerably reducing the danger of issues.
The South Japanese Well being Belief mentioned this expertise reduces the chance of negative effects equivalent to erectile dysfunction, incontinence and bleeding that will require transfusion.
It additionally affords a shorter restoration time, shorter hospital stays and decrease retreatment charges, enhancing outcomes for sufferers.
What might the brand new remedy do for NI ready lists?
Ajay Pahuja, marketing consultant urologist on the South Japanese Well being Belief, described it as “an thrilling new transformative expertise” with many advantages for males who’ve problem passing urine.
“It is fairly exact, it is protected and fairly fast,” he mentioned.
“Secondly, we’ll have the ability to in all probability get sufferers again to work – an early return to their regular jobs.
“The complication charges are fairly low if you happen to’re exact.”
Mr Pahuja mentioned it additionally preserves sexual perform, which is among the massive issues this expertise affords.
Whereas TURP is taken into account the gold commonplace take care of treating benign prostate (BPH), surgeons say aquablation remedy enhances the present applied sciences they’ve and can hopefully assist deal with the lengthy ready lists.
Mr Pahuja mentioned the urology ready listing, like different specialities, had a legacy of issues and that these with age-related benign prostate enlargement had been ready “so long as 5 to seven years” for remedy, with many having to go to England.
He mentioned aquablation remedy might imply extra environment friendly and efficient remedy, coupled with the South Japanese Well being Belief being declared as a regional BPH centre, ought to assist shorten the ready lists.
The belief’s assistant director of surgical procedure, Katharine Dane, mentioned all males throughout Northern Eire will profit from this new remedy.
She mentioned aquablation remedy was “an actual coup” for the belief.
“It simply completes the suite of remedy,” she mentioned.
Males on a ready listing in different trusts shall be transferred to the Ulster Hospital to be provided this service, if that’s what is determined is acceptable for his or her prostate.
