Urology Team steams ahead with procedure to help hundreds of men a year
Surgeons at Hillingdon are excited to be working with new equipment which they hope will greatly improve surgical outcomes for hundreds of men every year.
Our Urology Team are using the Rezum water vapour therapy machine to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia, a condition where the prostate gland enlarges, preventing the free flow of urine and then causing urinary symptoms.
The innovative procedure uses the power of water vapor to reduce excess prostate tissue that is pressing on the urethra,to help relieve symptoms and improve flow. The treatment now being used in Hillingdon Hospital will help men over the age of 50 who are frequently affected by prostate-related problems.
Saheel Mukhtar, consultant urologist, and with colleagues, made the business case for our Trust to buy the Rezum equipment after researching it and assessing its benefits. Together with fellow consultant urologists, Hassan Wazait and Mohammed Omar, and working closely with a large team of theatre staff, including consultant anaesthetist James Harris, they carried out the procedure successfully in July this year
There was a sense of anticipation and excitement in Theatre Three at Hillingdon as the team gathered and did their pre-operation checks before the patient was wheeled in. There was time for a quick team photograph with the Rezum machine.
Each procedure requires a new steam probe, which comes hermetically sealed and is disposed of after use, and which got some close attention from the theatre staff.
Mr Mukhtar said: “We’re a forward-thinking and innovative team who are keen to improve services and outcomes for our patients, so we made the case to buy this equipment for use at our Trust.
“Patients like it because it is less invasive than the previous TURP – transurethral resection of the prostate – which involved cutting. There is less bleeding, less risk of infection, a smaller catheter is needed afterwards and recovery time is reduced.
“We will eventually offer this as an outpatient procedure, so without the need for an overnight stay in hospital,” he said.
How does it work? Water vapor is delivered into the prostate tissue through a handheld device. The steam causes the cells to die, and the body absorbs the treated tissue over time, reducing the size of the prostate.
The procedure is usually completed within half an hour. It is less invasive than traditional surgical methods, involves a shorter recovery time, and has a lower risk of side effects such as sexual dysfunction or urinary incontinence.