Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) refers to a urological condition where a man's prostate gland abnormally enlarges. While it can naturally occur with age, if the enlarged prostate compresses the urethra, it can obstruct urine flow and cause various urination problems.
HoLEP (Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate) surgery is one of the surgical methods used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia. Its principle involves using a holmium laser to effectively remove the enlarged prostatic tissue, thereby resolving the problem of urethral compression and improving urine flow. HoLEP surgery is performed through a minimally invasive procedure, which results in less burden on the human body. Furthermore, because excision and hemostasis can be performed simultaneously, the recovery time is short, and the risk of complications is low.
HoLEP surgery can be primarily considered if a patient has experienced damage to bladder function due to benign prostatic hyperplasia, has a large amount of residual urine, or has a significantly enlarged median lobe of the prostate.
If trabeculation, or folds within the bladder, has formed in the bladder, the process of urination becomes difficult. Therefore, it is advisable to proceed with HoLEP surgery before bladder function is further damaged. After HoLEP surgery, an improvement in maximum urinary flow rate can be observed.
The second case is when there is a large amount of residual urine. If more than 100ml of residual urine remains, problems such as cystitis or decreased kidney function can occur. In such cases, HoLEP surgery can be performed to increase the maximum urinary flow rate and improve the amount of residual urine.
Finally, there is the case of a large median lobe. If the median lobe of the prostate is significantly enlarged, it can severely compress the urethra, leading to urination disorders. When the median lobe is well-developed, surgical procedures like UroLift may find it difficult to provide a solution. Therefore, HoLEP surgery can be performed to increase the maximum urinary flow rate.
As such, HoLEP surgery excels in improving urination symptoms because it completely removes the enlarged portion of the prostate. Since excision and hemostasis are possible simultaneously, the amount of bleeding during the surgical procedure is not significant, and the operating time is also remarkably reduced compared to conventional surgical methods. By completely removing the enlarged prostatic tissue, the recurrence rate is also very low. Regarding cost, it is relatively affordable as it is covered by national health insurance.
Director Jo Jung-ho of Goldman Urology Clinic Gangnam Branch stated, “For benign prostatic hyperplasia, it is crucial to select an appropriate treatment method based on the patient's health condition and needs.” He added, “If you experience discomfort during urination, do not simply dismiss it as aging, but rather visit a urology department and actively seek treatment.”