San Antonio Community Hospital offers innovative laser treatment for enlarged prostates in men

Inland Empire Business Journal, Dec 01, 1998

San Antonio Community Hospital has announced that it has introduced a new treatment for the symptoms of enlarged prostates in men, a condition known medically as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The innovative new treatment option is called the Indigo LaserOptic from Indigo Medical Inc., a Johnson and Johnson Company.

Most middle-aged men become aware of their prostate gland only after it becomes enlarged and they experience problems urinating. While prostate cancer has received much attention in recent years, it has not been linked with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a non-malignant enlargement of the prostate.

The prostate is a male gland surrounding the opening of the bladder like a doughnut. It gradually becomes enlarged as a natural part of the aging process narrowing the "doughnut hole" and making it difficult to urinate. It will affect at least half of all American men after the age of 60 and 80% of all men in their eighties. Left untreated, an enlarged prostate may lead to greater difficulty emptying the bladder, and in some cases, the man may not be able to urinate at all. This may cause damage to the kidney and/or bladder which is more complicated and serious to treat.

In the past, doctors have recommended removing the enlarged part of the prostate as the best long-term treatment for patients. Although the risks are low, surgical procedures may result in incontinence or difficulty with erection or ejaculation. Drug therapies are widely used but often involve a lifelong commitment to medications. There is, however, an innovative new laser surgery known as the Indigo LaserOptic Treatment System, which minimizes many of the side effects found in other treatment alternatives.

With laser surgery there is no cutting of tissue. A precise area of the prostate is heated rapidly, coagulating, and thus destroying the tissue. The destroyed tissue is then naturally absorbed by the body. It is a minimally invasive treatment that combines fiber optics with diode laser technology, allowing the LaserOptic-trained surgeons to use the diode laser to safely destroy the precise area of excess tissue. The treatment is affordable, convenient and performed on an out-patient basis. It is now in use at many of the country's leading prostate treatment centers.

An Upland man had an Indigo LaserOptic treatment in August 1998. He says "I am 200-300% better. Before my procedure, I would awaken several times during the night with the sensation to urinate. Now the pain and discomfort, along with the frequent need to urinate are gone. I recommend this treatment to anyone who needs it.

Early detection and treatment of BPH means early relief of symptoms. Because some men feel treatment may impact their sexual. function, they are reluctant to consult a doctor. Early detection is possible through regular prostate exams as part of an annual health check-up. "Typical" symptoms of an enlarged prostate include a variety of difficulties and irregularities associated with urination. They may include a slow stream, difficulty starting a stream, and dribbling at the end of urination. Men who experience these symptoms should seek a diagnosis from their physician. This will involve a review of your medical history, a urinalysis and a rectal examination to check the size and consistency of the prostate. It's relatively quick and painless.

Even men over the age of 40 with no symptoms should consider an annual check-up for early signs of prostate problems. Men over 50 should have an annual blood test called PSA, which measures a protein produced only by the prostate. It's important to track PSA as it can be an indicator of prostate cancer. African-Americans and men with a family history of cancer should begin PSA testing at 40.

If you have been diagnosed with an enlarged prostate, ask your doctor if you are a candidate for the new LaserOptic treatment at San Antonio Community Hospital. It is only available at selected Southern California hospitals. To locate a physician who performs the LaserOptic Treatment System, call San Antonio Community Hospital's Physician Referral Service at (909) 985-3627.