An enlarged prostate blocking the urethra, inset, can make urinating difficult, painful and overly frequent. For such symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a minimally invasive laser surgery performed at George Washington University Hospital and Inova Fair Oaks Hospital in Fairfax is gaining popularity. During a one-hour outpatient procedure called GreenLight PVP (photo-selective vaporization of the prostate), doctors use a camera-tipped tube inserted into the urethra to locate the blockage. Then, while viewing a computer screen, as in the main photo above, they vaporize the tissues with energy from a thin fiber threaded into the tube.
The procedure, developed by San Jose-based Laserscope, provides an alternative to traditional prostate surgery, which uses a device inserted into the urethra to scrape away tissue. That generally requires a two-day hospital stay and carries greater risk of complications, including impotence.
-- Matt McMillen
