1149 – Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate (HOLEP) Combined with Tissue Morcellation

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Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate is a method of completely removing the enlarged prostate gland, via the urethra, rather than by an operation that accesses the prostate via an external incision (an open prostatectomy), or by cutting, or shaving the tissue away via the urethra. Using a cystoscope inserted via the tip of the penis and positioned in the urethra at the level of the enlarged prostate, the surgeon uses a laser fiber that emits its focussed light through the end of a very thin tube to cut through the enlarged prostate tissue. The properties of this form of laser light allow it to both ‘cut’ tissue and also ‘coagulate’ or seal bleeding vessels that are disrupted during the removal of the tissue.

Benign Hyperplasia of the Prostate (BPH) describes the non-cancerous proliferation of tissue that causes a general enlargement of the prostate. It is a common condition with symptoms of varying degrees experienced in approximately 50% of men over the age of 50 years. The likelihood of this condition increases with age. The prostate is a gland found in males, responsible for the production of the fluid portion of seminal fluid, located at the base of the bladder. The enlargement of the prostate causes a variety of lower urinary tract symptoms that result from the compression of the urethra by the expanding prostate tissue. Untreated BPH may result in damage to the normal function of the bladder and the kidneys. While BPH is not a fatal disease, it significantly impacts on the quality of life of many middle-aged and elderly men.

• PASC meeting: 7 February 2011
• ESC meeting: October 2012
• MSAC meeting:
  • November 2012
  • 28-29 March 2018