Many patients who visit hospitals for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) rely primarily on medication for treatment. However, symptoms often persist, causing ongoing discomfort in daily life. At the same time, many patients hesitate to choose surgical treatment because of concerns about undergoing an invasive procedure. They may worry about having to take medication for life or about possible changes in sexual function after surgery.
Recently, the development of minimally invasive treatment options has expanded the choices available to patients facing these concerns. Among them, the iTind procedure, which can improve urinary symptoms in about five minutes without surgical incisions, has been drawing increasing attention.
iTind, also known as a temporary nitinol stent insertion procedure, works by inserting a thin device into the prostatic urethra to widen the urinary passage. The device is made of nitinol, a shape-memory alloy that expands on its own at the bladder neck and remains in place for about five days. During this time, the device gently applies consistent pressure to the enlarged prostate tissue, gradually pushing it aside and inducing structural changes in the urethra. Even after the device is removed, the widened urethral space tends to remain. Because the procedure does not involve tissue cutting and does not leave a permanent implant in the body, it generally causes less foreign-body sensation and requires minimal long-term management.
Although the procedure itself takes only about five minutes, an endoscope is required to insert the device. Therefore, spinal or caudal anesthesia is usually performed to ensure adequate pain control, as local anesthesia alone may not be sufficient. Some hospitals also use real-time C-arm fluoroscopic imaging to precisely confirm the position of the device during the procedure, improving both safety and treatment effectiveness. Even though it is minimally invasive, accurate placement plays a key role in treatment success.
The iTind procedure is often compared with another minimally invasive treatment called the UroLift system. UroLift works by pulling prostate tissue to the sides and securing it with permanent implants that remain in the body. In contrast, iTind leaves no permanent device behind, as the implant is removed after about five days. For this reason, patients who are sensitive to foreign-body sensations or uncomfortable with having a permanent implant in their body often prefer iTind.
One of the most notable advantages of the iTind procedure is the preservation of sexual function. In traditional resection surgeries, retrograde ejaculation occurs in a certain percentage of patients. However, such side effects have rarely been reported with iTind. As a result, the number of inquiries from patients in their 50s and 60s who are concerned about preserving sexual function has been increasing rapidly.
However, not all patients are suitable candidates for the iTind procedure. It is generally indicated for patients aged 50 or older with a prostate size between 25 and 75 grams, an International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) of 10 or higher, and a maximum urinary flow rate (Qmax) of 12 mL/s or lower. If symptoms are too mild, or if the prostate is excessively enlarged, the effectiveness of the procedure may be limited. Therefore, careful pre-procedural evaluation is essential.
Additionally, patients with severe median lobe protrusion or prostate enlargement extending deeply toward the bladder may experience limited treatment benefits. During the period when the device remains inside the body, some patients may also experience temporary discomfort or mild difficulty during urination, which should be explained beforehand.
Dr. Kim Tae-heon of Goldman Urology Clinic’s Seoul Station branch explained that BPH can significantly reduce quality of life, yet many patients delay treatment because they believe their symptoms are still tolerable. He added that when medication becomes insufficient, when patients feel burdened by surgical procedures, or when they are concerned about sexual side effects, iTind can serve as a practical minimally invasive alternative that offers the possibility of rapid recovery.