Description:
This procedure is used to treat benign prostatic obstruction (BPO.) BPO is a non-malignant enlargement of the prostate and is a common cause of lower urinary tract symptoms in men older than 40 years of age.
BPO can be managed either medically or surgically. The standard surgical treatment is transurethral resection of the prostate. However, relatively high morbidity for this procedure has led to the development of a range of minimally invasive techniques, some of which utilise thermal energy. Transurethral electrovaporisation of the prostate is one such technique which utilises high voltage electrical current to vaporise prostatic tissue and create a cavity in the prostate, so that symptoms caused by obstruction are reduced.
Transurethral electrovaporisation of the prostate, an electroablative technique, is performed with a specially designed modified rollerball electrode. Under general or spinal anaesthesia, electrical energy is applied for cutting and for coagulation. The electrode is rolled over the prostatic tissue to create an area of vaporisation of 3 to 4 mm and an underlying coagulative necrosis of 0.1 to 0.5mm. Vaporisation continues until an appropriate cavity is created.
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