New alternative for enlarged prostate
JOBURG – New minimally invasive surgery for the treatment of the prostate is now offered.
The prostate artery embolisation, an effective surgery for the treatment of the prostate, is now available in South Africa. Dr John Cantrell, an interventional radiologist at the Donald Gordon Medical Centre in Parktown, performs these procedures to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia, which is an enlarged prostate gland that causes urination issues.
“The embolisation is done under local anaesthetic or sedation, without the need for a general anaesthetic, and patients either go home on the same day or spend one night in hospital,” said Cantrell.
A small puncture is made in the groin area, through which small beads are injected via a catheter to block the blood supply. This is said to shrink the prostate over time.
“The procedure was first developed by doctors in Portugal and Brazil in 2011 and has since gained worldwide acceptance, with new data from the long-term studies showing excellent results, with no urinary incontinence or sexual dysfunction reported.”
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