Introduction
The PvP (Photoselective Vaporization of the Prostate) by laser, is created in America by Professor Reza S. Malek at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, and approved by the US FDA in 2001. Today in Italy is successfully applied in many centers.
"Practical for over 10 years this innovative technique for benign prostatic hypertrophy, applicable to a wide range of patient - says Dr. Franco Lugnani, surgeon urologist - as less invasive technique traditional and extremely effective surgical thanks biological affinity of the laser light with the blood. the technique has evolved over the years and now we have joined the green laser other lasers with similar frequency light even water in addition to the single hemoglobin in so as to ensure greater efficacy in prostate poorly vascularized and fibrotic ".
The prostate is a male gland located at "sleeve" around the urethra, and its secretory function contributes to the production and vitality of sperm. It is subject to various pathologies; among these, there is frequently all'ingrossamento volume, which may be significant, thus making it difficult urination for urethral compression that results.Functional deterioration of the prostate is also a characteristic of advanced age event which occurs after 50-60 years (it is estimated that concerns 70% of men over this age and 80% after 80 years), but also not uncommon much earlier. In early symptoms, such as difficulty with urination, inability to empty the bladder and urinary retention, diagnosis of benign prostatic hypertrophy occurs after specialist examination that includes digital rectal examination and prostate ultrasound assisted analysis of the blood of a substance dose produced by the prostate: the PSA (prostate Specific Antigen).
In the picture below: The application of laser PVP in urology care benign enlargement of the prostate (BPH Benign Prostatic Hiperplasia as commonly defined English).
Technique
The classic approach to restore normal urination is a partial prostatectomy. The intervention aims to solve the obstruction by excision of that part of the enlarged gland that obstructs the urinary channel. Although it is a less radical intervention of total prostatectomy, which is instead a radical choice, demolishing, large and risky that you do when there is a malignant tumor, the partial removal is always a type of invasive surgery with its non-negligible risks. After an intervention of this type are frequent problems to the infectious character and / or sexual.
"The pharmacological approach - continues Dr.Lugnani - at an earlier and earlier stage, if deemed effective answers an organ conservative logic, but not without any risk for the patient and forces him for life to undergo a therapy with consequent likely side effects.Contrary to the traditional surgical techniques, selective fotovaporizzazione prostate with high-power laser light combines effectively the need to restore to normal urination in useful with a low-impact minimally invasive procedure "
The PVP of the Laser technique is performed under spinal or general anesthesia, introducing the endoscope with the fiber laser through the urethra. This mixture was heated to hundreds of degrees the part of the prostate gland in excess, literally vaporizing the tissue and hypertrophied coagulandone the surface. In less than an hour it leads to a resolutive term intervention for the obstruction which hindered the normal urination, with a slight bleeding and therefore without the need for transfusions; all that implies both minor postoperative complications, both the recovery in a very short time of normal everyday life, even in patients with chronic complete retention, even in very old age or general condition weakened by other factors.
"It is with great personal and professional satisfaction - says Dr. Lugnani - I can say that this practice has solved positively, definitive and lasting results, the very different cases problems. Perhaps you will gradually apply this laser technique to an increasing number of patients "to replace the traditional surgical technique", as required by the prof. Gordon Muir (Muiz) in London, which is one of the European fathers of this technique.
This is the goal we are setting ourselves constantly collaborating with the most qualified European specialists: to ensure a safe and effective method, which is widely applicable in the near future".
Given the encouraging results of this proven and safe technique, the Italian Society of Urology (SIU) warns that in Italy several doctors pretend to work with laser technology operations instead use the classic endoscopic resection.
