by Dr. Sam Ward – MediQuality
BRUSSELS, Nov. 23 – Benign prostatic hyperplasia affects 110 million men worldwide[1]. The most common treatments currently are transurethral resection via endoscopy (TURP) and holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HOLEP). The Clinique Saint-Jean in Brussels now offers a third technique, called REZUM, which, unlike the so-called traditional treatments—TURP and HOLEP—has no side effects. In particular, REZUM preserves sexual function and ejaculation.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia, which usually leads to urinary problems, can significantly affect patients’ quality of life. Patients complain of a weak urine stream, frequent urination, difficulty starting to urinate—which then occurs in two phases—and the need to get up at night to urinate, which causes fatigue during the day. Various treatments are available today. Depending on the symptoms, clinical examination, and patients’ expectations, urologists offer them personalized solutions.
TURP, HOLEP, or REZUM?
Benign prostatic hyperplasia can be treated endoscopically using transurethral resection (TURP), holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HOLEP), or steam therapy (REZUM).
The technique depends on the anatomy of the prostate (volume and presence of a medial lobe). TURP and REZUM can produce satisfactory results for volumes up to 80–90 ml without an overly large medial lobe. HOLEP offers a solution for larger prostates. With TURP and HOLEP, the procedure takes about 60 minutes, and the patient must stay in the hospital for at least two days. Retrograde ejaculation is a postoperative symptom. With the new REZUM steam therapy, patients now benefit from a much less invasive procedure. The treatment is minimally invasive, takes only 10 to 15 minutes, and in some cases can even be performed under local anesthesia. An average hospital stay of one night is recommended.
This shorter hospital stay is possible because continuous irrigation is not required. Furthermore, compared to other endoscopic treatments, the procedure has virtually no side effects: sexual function and ejaculation are preserved, and postoperative symptoms are minimal. 57% of treated patients report no irritation when urinating after surgery, unlike with conventional endoscopic treatment[2].
A first in Brussels and Wallonia
Dr. Sam Ward, a urologist and Fellow of the European Board of Urology (FEBU) and the European Council for Sexual Medicine (FECSM), along with the team of urologists at Clinique Saint-Jean, have completed specialized training to perform this procedure. “Prostate treatments often have serious consequences for the patient, especially in terms of sexual function. Treatment with steam thermotherapy makes it possible to avoid these consequences in cases of benign prostatic hyperplasia. This is significant for a condition that is common among sexually active men. I am therefore delighted that the urology team at Clinique Saint-Jean is the first to offer this innovative treatment in Brussels and Wallonia.”
The REZUM technique was developed by medical experts at Boston Scientific and has been in use for five years, primarily in the United States and the United Kingdom. The results are extremely favorable, and the vast majority of patients are symptom-free after surgery. Currently, the cost of the materials used during the procedure is not yet covered, but the surgery and hospital stay are.
[1] https://news.bostonscientific.com/2019-01-25-New-Four-Year-Data-Demonstrate-Rezum-TM-Water-Vapor-Therapy-Offers-Significant-Durable-Improvement-of-Benign-Prostatic-Hyperplasia-Symptoms