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In the meantime, you can enjoy access to all the latest news, events and resources for different therapy areas on our website.The UroLift System in the management of benign prostatic hyperplasia
Two New York-based physicians, Johnson Tsui and Christopher Dixon, have reviewed a recently introduced procedure, the UroLift, for the management of clinical benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), in Current Urology Reports.1
The approved procedure (prostatic urethral lift or PUL) is intended to treat symptoms arising from bladder outflow obstruction, secondary to BPH.1
Based on studies conducted to date, this minimally invasive procedure appears to provide greater symptom improvement than standard medical treatment, but a direct comparison between therapy options would be required to confirm this.1 Although UroLift has a minimal adverse event profile, it is only a temporizing option for BPH management.1
The UroLift implants can be inserted under local anaesthesia or with minimal sedation.1
Small implants are used to open the urethra lumen, reducing obstruction and overcoming the symptoms of BPH. The learning process for surgeons performing PUL procedure is regarded as less steep than that for conventional transurethral resection of the prostate or laser techniques.1
The reviewers point out that although PUL is not a permanent treatment option because hypertrophy of the tissue is unimpeded, the procedure can buy the patient more time.1
Although limited for use on the lateral lobes, the UroLift has benefits over other therapeutic options including minimal impairment of sexual function.1
As the UroLift system is still a relatively new procedure, long-term outcomes, including efficacy and complication, are yet to be investigated. Further studies are required to fully examine the success of this procedure compared to other therapeutic options available for men with bladder outflow obstruction.1
