HoLEP for Prostate Enlargement Treatment: Pros and Cons

HoLEP for Prostate Enlargement Treatment

Prostate enlargement is a condition that commonly affects men aged above 50. This condition is characterized by a benign and abnormal growth of cells in the prostate gland.

The prostate is a gland, walnut-sized, located between the penis and the urinary bladder. Prostate enlargement results in an excessive pressure on the urethra and thus restrict the normal flow of urine from the bladder.

As a result, the patient experiences a certain set of symptoms related to the urinary problems such as dribbling after urination, incomplete bladder emptying, leakage, urge to urinate, urinary tract infections (UTIs), and bladder spasms.

Also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia, prostate enlargement is treated with the help of medications, lifestyle changes, catheter placement, and surgery. Surgical intervention to remove excess of the prostate tissue is the most common treatment for cases with advanced prostate enlargement.

Among surgical interventions, open surgery and transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) are the two most common procedure performed. However, these are not the only surgical interventions available. Holmium Laser Enucleation of Prostate (HoLEP) is one of the fast-emerging options for the treatment of prostate enlargement.

HoLEP involves the use of laser technology to cut away the excess prostate tissue and relieve the patients of the uncomfortable prostate enlargement symptoms. The removal of the excess tissues relieves the pressure on the urethra and there is an overall improvement in the urine flow.

HoLEP in India is available across all major multispeciality hospitals. It is a complicated and a sensitive procedure, which is performed only by a highly-experienced surgeon. HoLEP is not a popular procedure in all countries, but HoLEP in India is quite known and can be availed at an extremely affordable cost.

Medical tourists traveling from abroad for HoLEP in India, however, must know about the specific pros and cons associated with HoLEP. Although the benefits of HoLEP outweigh the risks associated with the procedure, the latter should not be ignored.

The following are some of the pros and cons associated with HoLEP:

Pros

  • Minimally invasive
  • No need for blood transfusion in a majority of cases
  • Minimal bleeding
  • Reduced morbidity
  • Minimal hospital stay
  • Quick recovery
  • Does not cause impotence or incontinence
  • Low reoperation rates after the procedure
  • Low prostate enlargement recurrence
  • No risk of infection and damage to nearby organs
  • No collateral damage from laser

Cons

  • Cost could be a bit more than open surgery and TURP, depending on the hospital
  • Not all surgeons specialize in conducting HoLEP
  • Not all hospitals conduct HoLEP
  • Research suggests new onset of urinary incontinence after HoLEP
  • May affect normal ejaculation in some cases

The benefits of HoLEP clearly outweigh the risks associated with the procedure. Even though there are no long-term reports follow up reports available for the patients who opted for the procedure, there is no clear evidence that the procedure has major pitfalls or cannot be used effectively for prostate enlargement treatment.