Greenlight Therapy for BPH

GreenLight™ Laser Therapy is a procedure performed with a small fiber that is inserted into the urethra through a cystoscope. The fiber delivers high powered laser energy which quickly heats up the prostate tissue, causing the tissue to vaporize. This process is continued until all of the enlarged prostate tissue has been removed. Natural urine flow is rapidly
restored and urinary symptoms are quickly relieved in most patients.

GreenLight Laser Therapy combines the effectiveness of the “gold standard” transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) surgical procedure with fewer side effects. The result is a wide open channel for urine flow to pass through, but with fewer risks of side effects, including erectile dysfunction and bleeding, common with TURP.

GreenLight Laser Therapy can be performed in a hospital outpatient center, surgical center, or specially equipped physician’s office. Typically no overnight stay is needed. However, in some cases when a patient travels a long distance, has other medical conditions to consider, or is in frail condition an overnight stay may be recommended.

What to Expect DURING Your GreenLight™ Laser Therapy Treatment

First, the physician will perform an evaluation to see if you are a candidate for this therapy. Then, on the day of your procedure, you will come to the treatment center. You should have someone drive you home since this an outpatient procedure.

Each patient is different, therefore treatment procedures may vary. Below is a general description of the procedure and what to expect:

1. Before treatment your physician may give you medication to help you relax during the procedure. Other medications that your physician may give you are to avoid infections.

2. You may be asked to empty your bladder.

3. You will be brought into the procedure room and moved to the treatment bed where you will lie on your back. You will be provided anesthesia that will allow you to sleep through the entire procedure. Depending on the treatment center, other types of anesthesia may be used, including spinal block or pudendal block.

4. Once you are asleep or the anesthesia block takes effect, your physician will insert a cystoscope through the urethra.

5. The laser fiber is introduced through the cystoscope and advanced into the urethra at the location of the prostate.

6. The physician systematically vaporizes the enlarged prostate tissue until the obstruction is removed.

7. At the end of the procedure the physician may place a temporary catheter to let urine drain from your bladder.

What to Expect AFTER Your GreenLight™ Laser Therapy Treatment

Since this is an outpatient procedure, you will typically go home within a few hours after treatment. You should have someone drive you home after the procedure.

If a catheter was placed in your bladder at the end of the procedure, it will typically be removed within 24 hours. However, patients with compromised bladder function or those who have required prolonged catheterization as a result of severe urinary symptoms may require a catheter for a longer period of time.

Most patients experience very rapid relief of symptoms and a dramatic improvement in urine flow. This typically occurs within 24 hours of the procedure. However, medical history, health condition and other factors can influence treatment recovery.
You may experience mild discomfort such as slight burning during urination and small amounts of blood in your urine
for a week or so. Also, depending on the condition of your bladder, you may experience greater frequency and urge to urinate.

This will resolve over time as your bladder adjusts now that the obstruction in your urethra has been removed.

What are the ADVANTAGES of a GreenLight Laser Therapy Treatment?

  • Rapid urine flow improvement
  • Quick return to normal activities
  • Virtually bloodless procedure
  • A definitive, long lasting treatment
  • Less than 1% reported cases of erectile dysfunction
  • Short to possibly no catheterization (less than 24 hours in most cases)
  • Outpatient procedure in otherwise healthy patients
  • Over 375,000 patients treated worldwide
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