Urologists at Jefferson are using a new medical device for the nonsurgical treatment of symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The device, known as the Prostatron, represents a breakthrough for the treatment of BPH. The Prostatron uses microwave energy to safely eliminate excess prostate tissue without affecting adjacent, healthy tissue.
This outpatient procedure, called TransUrethral Microwave Thermotherapy (TUMT), uses the Prostatron device. It requires no anesthesia and is performed in a single, one-hour treatment session. During the procedure, a small catheter is inserted through the urethra to the prostate. The catheter, which contains an antenna, emits microwave energy to tissues within the prostate.
"Men suffering from prostate enlargement now have the option of this innovative approach to overcoming their discomfort," says Frank L. D'Elia, MD, Clinical Associate Professor of Urology, Jefferson Medical College. "TUMT offers many benefits and minimal risks for men with this condition."
Throughout the treatment, a cooling system circulates water within the catheter applicator, protecting tissue adjacent to the prostate. A fiber optic thermosensor continuously monitors the treatment temperatures for safety. Thermotherapy, the application of controlled, localized heat 45 degrees centigrade and higher can safely destroy benign prostate cells. The therapeutic heat is produced by microwave energy, which results in rapid, deep heating of tissues. Microwaves, the portion of the radio-wave spectrum located between infrared and short-wave radio wavelengths, are used safely in medical, scientific and industrial applications.
"Until now, the most common treatment options for an enlarged prostate were either drugs or surgery. Drug therapy is not consistently effective, can cause side effects and can be costly to the patient," explains Demetrius Bagley Jr., MD, Professor of Urology and Radiology at Jefferson. "Surgery of the prostate involves anesthesia, requires three days in the hospital, and can cause significant side effects. The Prostatron advances the treatment options available to men by offering them an easy solution for their BPH without the risks associated with surgery."
More than 35,000 patients have been treated with thermotherapy using the Prostatron unit worldwide. Clinical studies in the United States, Europe and Japan show consistent success rates for patients treated with the Prostatron. In the United States, the FDA clinical study found more than 70 percent of Prostatron thermotherapy patients had symptomatic improvement.
BPH affects more than nine million men over the age of 60 in the United States. The most common symptoms of BPH include frequent urination, waking at night to urinate, urgency or incomplete voiding.
For more information about the Prostatron or to schedule a screening appointment, please call 1-800-JEFF-NOW.