Which surgical methods are used for the treatment of benign prostate enlargement?
Today, the most popular and the gold standard method used all over the world is the transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) also known as minimally invasive surgery of the prostate. In this surgery, the enlarged prostate tissues are cut out by entering through the urinary canal, with a minimally invasive method, and the urinary canal is widened which facilitates the urine flow. The removed tissues are examined by a pathologist. The advantage of this surgery is that the removed tissues can be examined, however, some problems may occur because the surgery lasts long, especially for large prostates, and due to the properties of the liquids used during the surgery.
What are the symptoms of prostate diseases?
The size of the prostate enlarges with age. Due to the enlargement of the prostate, the urinary canal (urethra) gets pinched and urinary complaints occur.
The complaints of prostate diseases are grouped under two headings. The first one is related to the storage function of the bladder (urinary bladder). These complaints result from the decrease in the urine storage function of the urinary bladder, and usually appear as frequent urination, burning during urination, frequent waking up at night for urination, urgent need to urinate, and urinary incontinence before reaching the toilet.
Who should have prostate control?
In our country, we recommend that healthy men over 50 with no risks for or complaints of prostate diseases should have prostate control once a year. In countries like the USA, where prostate cancer is common (especially in Afro-American men), this age limit is much lower.
What is PSA?
PSA is a protein, found in blood, that is secreted by only the prostate gland. Contrary to popular belief, high PSA mostly does not make people sick. However, high PSA shows us, the doctors, that there is an extraordinary situation in the patient’s prostate and that we need to examine it more closely.