Prostate Treatment with Laser Method: Thulium Laser

One of the most common problems in middle and advanced aged men is benign prostate enlargement. When the complaints, which can often be controlled with drugs at the beginning, increase over time and a surgical intervention is required, the most current treatment alternative is prostate surgery with laser.

What is laser? How is it used in surgery?

• Laser can be defined as very intense light produced in special element environments.
• Laser energy is used to cut (enucleate) or vaporize (ablation) prostate tissue in surgeries. ) using for.
• Since the high heat from the laser cuts the tissue and seals the blood vessels at the same time, bleeding is less in this type of surgical procedure.

When to consider laser prostate surgery?

• With benign prostatic enlargement over 30 grams
• Patients with moderate or severe urination complaints
• Patients whose complaints persist or increase despite using medication are suitable for laser prostatectomy. There is no upper size limit for enucleation laser prostatectomy.
• Because it causes very little bleeding during and after the procedure, it is preferred in patients using blood thinners.

What are the types of lasers used in prostate surgery?

Laser has been used for 40 years in benign prostate surgery. Prostate lasers are generally divided into 2 groups as vaporizers and cutters.

The most commonly used and best known vaporizer laser is the KTP Green Light laser.

Neodymium Yag Laser and Holmium Laser have also been used to vaporize prostate tissue in the past.

Tissue Cutting Lasers:

• Laser radiation obtained with Thulium, Holmium and Erbium elements is used as tissue cutter.
• The enlarged prostate tissue is cut with laser energy and pushed into the bladder, then it is divided into very small pieces with the help of a tool called a morcellator and taken out.
• The removed tissues are sent for pathological examination.

What is the Thulium Method?

Thulium is the latest laser used in prostate surgery. Thulium fiber laser (TFL) prostate enucleation is the last described method. There is no upper prostate size limit for Thulium fiber laser prostatectomy. It can be applied to all patients with complaints and prostate over 30 grams.
With the most advanced laser technology;

• Application without upper prostate size limit,
• Shorter catheter stay time
• Shorter hospital stay
• Less urinary incontinence risk
• Better nerve protection

_{Read: 51}