Benign enlargement of the prostate (BPS = benign prostatic syndrome) is a frequent disorder in men over the age of 50. Around 50% of men are affected by BPS to a variable degree.

The increase in prostatic tissue, above all in the area around the urethra that runs through the prostate, causes the typical symptoms of the disease, namely incomplete bladder emptying, a weakened jet of urine, frequent micturition during the day and/or night and dribbling. Bladder infections may also occur. Urinary retention may ultimately occur, in which emptying of the bladder is no longer possible.

The exact causes behind age-dependent prostatic hypertrophy are still unclear. Hormone fluctuations, age, race (e.g. African-American) and genetic predisposition are factors in the development of BPS.

Treatment

Medicinal Treatment

Various preparations are available for medicinal treatment. This treatment is normally administered by a urologist in private practice, who then monitors the treatment and its success.

Surgical Treatment

Surgery becomes necessary when symptoms recur or persist during medicinal treatment..

The principle of the operation lies in reducing the size of the prostate, which can be achieved by different means.

The surgical procedures are performed under anaesthetic (general or local).

Transurethral Prostatic Resection (curettage of the prostate through the urethra) = Standard Procedure

This procedure involves scraping the prostate via the urethra, i.e. from inside, down to the capsule and under observation. This enables the sphincter to be carefully preserved.

We use this surgical technique in combination with a modern and very conservative method in which a saline solution is used as the rinsing fluid. Its advantage over the previous rinsing solution is its reduced volumetric load on patient’s circulation and therefore greater protection for the heart, which has a highly positive effect, particularly in patients with existing cardiocirculatory diseases.

Prostatic Surgery Using a Lower Abdominal Incision-TVP

In cases of extensive prostatic enlargement, curettage through the urethra cannot be performed. In these cases, the gland is scraped via a lower abdominal incision and the prostatic capsule is retained. This open approach is now rarely necessary.