.

The Prostatron® System is a non-surgical treatment alternative used to treat BPH in a single, one-half hour session. The treatment is performed on an outpatient basis and requires oral sedation and local anesthesia. No serious long-term side effects are associated with the Prostatron procedure.

Available in Europe since 1991, Prostatron has been used to treat thousands of patients worldwide. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Prostatron in May of 1996 based on the clinical findings of Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC; Rush Presbyterian Hospital in Chicago, IL; Kidney Stone Center in Denver, CO; and the Mayo Clinics in Rochester, MN, and Jacksonville, FL.



How Cooled Transuretheral Microwave Thermotherapy (TUMT) Works

Using a microwave antenna on the probe's surface, microwave energy is transmitted to continuously heat and destroy enlarged prostate tissue. At the same time chilled water is circulated inside the probe to protect the urethra from the heat generated by the microwave energy.

 

During the Procedure

TUMT is performed in the urologist's office or an outpatient surgical setting. The patient is lightly sedated during the entire procedure, which takes about 45 minutes.

A flexible probe is placed into the patient's urethra and positioned in the prostatic urethra with an inflated balloon in the bladder to seat or anchor the probe. A plastic rectal probe is placed in the patient's rectum to monitor rectal temperatures during the procedure.

Once the treatment begins the patient may experience some mild discomfort. He will also feel a warming sensation as the temperature increases during treatment. Chilled water is circulated through the catheter to keep the urethra cool, increasing the patient's comfort.

 

After the Procedure

Patients may go home shortly after treatment. Because the tissue surrounding the urethra may be swollen after treatment, the patient may go home with a catheter in place. This allows urine to drain from the bladder while the swelling and inflammation subsides. Generally, the catheter is in place for 2-5 days.

For some men the next few days after the procedure may be uncomfortable. The patient might have some or none of the following:

  • soreness in the lower abdomen

  • urgency after the catheter is removed

  • frequency

 

What to Expect

The patient should not expect an immediate change in BPH symptoms, as his body is healing itself. The tissue destroyed by TUMT is gradually re-absorbed by the body.

Within a matter of weeks the patient will start to see improvement in symptoms. Most men start to see results in 6-8 weeks.


Why Choose Cooled Transuretheral Microwave Thermotherapy (TUMT)?

Just a few years ago the only options to treat BPH were a lifetime of medication or major surgery. While these treatments can be successful, they both have disadvantages.

Drugs, which are relatively expensive and must be taken daily, may not always work. These drugs have side affects that can cause impotence, headache, dizziness, and fatigue.

TURP carries the risks associated with anesthesia and recovery time can be lengthy. It can also cause severe complications such as incontinence.

With TUMT there is little risk of impotence or incontinence. And, since it isn't surgery, the patient won't require general anesthesia with its attendant risks. TUMT is clinically proven to be effective. The procedure is covered by Medicare and most insurance carriers.