New NHS operation to improve lives for patients with common prostate condition

A revolutionary new treatment for thousands of men who suffer from a common prostate condition is soon to be made available on the NHS, ending the need for invasive surgery under general anaesthetic. The new 15 minute procedure will also allow patients to return home after just a few hours instead of recovering in hospital for several days.

The new UroLift procedure is also expected to save the NHS tens of millions of pounds.

Over 20,000 men undergo trans-urethral resection of the prostate (TURP) surgery to remove part of the prostate, to enable urine to pass. It is an invasive procedure and carries the risk of sexual dysfunction, including impotence. It also requires the use of drugs, which carry their own associated risks.

In contrast, the UroLift procedure is carried out under local anaesthetic and involves the movement of the enlarged prostate so that the flow of urine through the urethra is no longer restricted. The prostate is then anchored into place using small implants.

Side effects are mild and require no hospital treatment, with just four per cent of patients requiring drugs again within 12 months.

Neil Barber, consultant urologist, was the first surgeon to offer the new procedure in the UK. He said “This is an effective day case procedure that, for the first time, preserves sexual function; we could offer most patients the likely prospect of going home catheter-free; and they would experience a rapid improvement in symptoms and a return to normal activity within days rather than weeks.”

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Posted by Karen Motley, Paralegal, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (karenmotley@chadlaw.co.uk), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

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