Prostate surgery evolves for the better

Cvjetko Milanovic, 82, of Rostrevor, was back in his garden the day after undergoing a new prostate surgical procedure. Picture: Calum Robertson Source: The Advertiser

SOUTH Australian men suffering from an enlarged prostate can now undergo a revolutionary new laser surgical procedure treatment.

A group of six Adelaide surgeons are trialling surgery using a $250,000 German-developed device, known as Evolve, that allows them to operate on men taking blood-thinning medication.

One in two men aged over 60 suffer from the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), or benign enlarged prostate. That number rises to three in four men aged over 75.

Dr Jehan Titus has performed surgery about 15 times using the new vaporising laser treatment and said patients were home within 24 hours as opposed to an average stay of two to three days for more traditional surgery.

The Advertiser sat in on a procedure performed by Dr Kim Pese.

It took 45 minutes for him to finish vaporising the offending tissue, ensuring his patient's urethra was no longer blocked.

"There is significantly less bleeding, so much so that we can treat people who are on medication to thin the blood," Dr Pese said.

"The usual issue is that we are dealing with an older man, so it is not uncommon problem for them to be on blood thinners and have prostate blocking of the bladder."

Cvjetko Milanovic, 82, of Rostrevor, recently had the surgery. He said he was back in his garden pain free the following day.

He has had traditional surgery on two previous occasions after which he was in hospital for up to a week.

"This time I didn't feel a thing," Mr Milanovic enthused. "There was no pain, no suffering. It was like I hadn't been touched, it was easy. I feel excellent."

Dr Titus said doctors across Adelaide would carry out an average of about 15 procedures a week to alleviate the symptoms of BPH.

"It can be used safely in patients on anti-platelet or anti-coagulant medications," he said. "(These) are usually necessary in some cardiac patients with coronary stents or those that have an increased tendency for developing life threatening blood clots."

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