In Thailand, 25% of men over 40 years of age have benign prostatic hyperplasia. That percentage rises to 50% of men 60 and over, and 90% of men 80 and over. The health-risks related benign prostatic hyperplasia increases with patients' age. Usually, symptoms appear around of 50 years of age or older. However, they are treatable. Benign prostatic hyperplasia affects daily living, as common symptoms include difficulty urinating, frequent or urgent need to urinate, or inconsistent urine stream. In severe cases, patients may not be able to urinate at all, negatively impacting their quality of life.
The team of urologists led by Dr. Viroj Chodchoy, Medical Director of the Urology Center and specialist in Urology at Bumrungrad International Hospital, states, "Currently, the Urology Center, which is a Center of Excellence, provides effective, holistic treatment for a wide range of urological and genital conditions. We have adopted the latest alternative technology, water vapor therapy in our treatment plans to relieve symptoms and obstructions, and reduce prostate tissue associated with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH). The equipment is passed through the urethra. Then 103?C steam is injected into the prostate 4-6 times, depending on the size of the prostate. During each 9-second treatment, sterile water vapor is released throughout the targeted prostate tissue. As the vapor cools, it condenses immediately on contact with tissue and the stored thermal energy is released, denaturing the cell membranes and causing cell death. Eventually, the prostate resorbs (shrinks) due to the steam injection, which opens up the space at prostatic urethra to allow improved urinary flow and bladder emptying. Patients usually recover within two weeks and most resume a normal life within 6 weeks post-treatment.
Dr. Viroj Chodchoy adds, "Common treatments for benign prostatic hyperplasia are medication and surgery. Today, medical technology has advanced to offer an alternative treatment for patients who do not want surgery or medication, due to concern regarding side effects. The water vapor therapy for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) since 2015. It is also approved by the Thai Food and Drug Administration. Minimally invasive treatment with water vapor thermal therapy provides safer treatment than more invasive approaches. The therapy only uses vapor and the procedure takes 10-15 minutes. It can minimize the sexual side effects usually associated with more invasive procedures and for some, the therapy does not cause sexual side effects at all. There is also a reduced need for anesthetics, and treatment is administered on an outpatient basis, without need for hospital stays. The therapy provides significant and durable symptom relief as well as flow rate improvements which can last up to 5 years. Patients will need follow-up treatments once every 2-5 years."
Urologist will be able to tell patients whether water vapor therapy is appropriate for their condition (symptoms, uroflow pattern, size and shape of your prostate). Our team of urologists at Bumrungrad's Urology Center provide rapid, accurate diagnosis and immediate, effective treatment with latest technology for a wide range of urological and genital conditions for both men and women. Our interdisciplinary medical professionals are experts and devoted to providing the best care. We focus on non-invasive and minimally invasive treatments so that we can give our patients the best possible results.
For more information and inquiries, please contact the Urology Center, Bumrungrad International Hospital, 11th Floor, Building A (Clinic), call +6620115888, 061-409 3943 (Hotline), or 1378.