Research shows that majority of men over 60 will have an enlarged prostate which may affect their urinary system and quality of life and for which treatment ranges from medicine through to minimally invasive surgery.

And men often think frequent trips to the bathroom are a natural part of ageing, when, in most cases, this is due to an enlarged prostate. In some cases, the solution is a minimally invasive procedure known as Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), a common procedure with patients back home after two to three days in hospital, says The Urology Hospital’s Dr Francois Duvenage.

Dr Duvenage recently teamed up with NPO, Operation Healing Hands (OHH) -- which helps those who can’t afford life-saving operations -- to offer a free TURP procedure on a 73-year-old man who had an indwelling catheter for six months and who had been unable to get immediate help from a public hospital.

“TURP, in many ways is the ultimate procedure in that we can operate without cuts by going in through the penis, removing enlarged parts of the prostate and thereby allowing patients to urinate freely again. Through his operation, we solved the problem of the 73-year-old patient effectively.”

Duvenage explained that an enlarged prostate (benign prostatic hyperplasia) places pressure on the urethra, affecting urination. He said TURP is recommended when an enlarged prostate fails to respond to medication.

Symptoms include: 

• Difficulty starting to urine or being unable to empty the bladder fully
• Having to strain to pass urine, having a weak urine flow or stopping and starting
• Sudden urges to urinate or a frequent need to urinate including at night (known as nocturia)

“Not all men with enlarged prostates require this procedure. Medication helps if diagnosed early. I recommend all men over 40 should see a urologist annually to check for a cancerous or enlarged prostate,” said Dr Duvenage.

He urged men to call The Urology Hospital, Pretoria, to set up an appointment with a urologist.

For more information, contact 012 423-4000 or SMS the word INFO and your e-mail address to 33000 (SMS charged at R1.50).

Prostate Artery Embolisation relieves urinary symptoms of Benign Prostate Hyperplasia

By the age of 60, most men will have suffered from the symptoms of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) which is widely known as an enlarged prostate. These symptoms include difficulty starting the urinary stream, frequent urination particularly at night and a slow flow of urine. Though several non-cancerous prostate problems exist, BPH is the most commonly occurring condition of the prostate.

Prostate Artery Embolisation, developed and conducted by interventional radiologists, is a minimally invasive procedure which effectively treats urinary symptoms of an enlarged prostate. Prostate Artery Embolisation is performed as a day procedure, with most patients able to go home on the same day. It allows men to return to their usual activities almost immediately as no lengthy recovery period is required post-procedure. Conducted under local anasthetia, Prostate Artery Embolisation stands out as a worthwhile contender amidst the various treatment options that are invasive with higher associated risks and side effects.

The treatment method makes use of a thin tube or catheter which is inserted into the groin or wrist by means of a tiny incision. The tube is fed to the femoral or radial artery and then guided to the appropriate artery under x-ray supervision. The tube is directed to the artery which supplies blood to the prostate and inert particles are used to create a temporary blockage, preventing the supply of blood to the organ. Once the prostate is starved of nourishment it begins to shrink in size and ultimately relieves pain and discomfort to the patient.

This delicate and specialised procedure is performed in South Africa by interventional radiologist Dr Andrew Lawson. He operates from Netcare Sunninghill in Johanesburg who have accommodated the rise of Prostate Artery Emobilisation with their state of the art equipment suited to the treatment.  Patients can expect little to no pain during the procedure which takes up to 3 hours.

Prostate Care comprises of Dr Andrew Lawson and his team of skilled professionals who have been trained to minimize risks and ensure patient comfort at all times. The procedure is conducted exclusively through Netcare Sunninghill hospital located in Johannesburg.