Royal Surrey launches pioneering laser treatment for patients with enlarged prostates | News

The Urology Team at Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust (Royal Surrey) has launched a pioneering treatment for benign prostate enlargement, which affects around 50 per cent of men aged 50 and over.

Thanks to a generous donation from the Prostate Project charity, Royal Surrey is now one of just a handful of UK NHS Trusts offering EchoLaser treatment for patients with benign enlarged prostates.

The ground-breaking treatment uses laser light transmitted by optical fibres to create cavities that help shrink the size of the prostate. This reduces the compression on a patient’s bladder to relieve urinary problems and improve quality of life. 

Dimitrios Moschonas, Consultant Urological Surgeon and Clinical Director of Urology , said: “This minimally invasive procedure benefits our patients in many ways by facilitating rapid recovery, reducing side effects such as damage to healthy tissue, and ensuring that there is little or no risk to sexual function.

“Previously our patients would have had the treatment under general anaesthetic and faced an overnight hospital stay, now they are able to go home within an hour of having the procedure. It’s also an efficient way to help elderly patients who may not be suitable for other treatment options. It’s a win, win situation.”

Benign prostate enlargement is a common condition affecting men as they age, causing symptoms that impact on a patient’s quality of life, such as frequent urination, difficulty urinating, interruption to flow, and needing to get up in the night repeatedly to urinate.

Urology Consultant, Wissam Abou-Chedid, said: “We have seen an influx of patients being referred with prostate problems since King Charles revealed that he was being treated for an enlarged prostate earlier this year. We are finding that our referrals are increasing, as patients are being more proactive about their health and seeking help for problems they previously might have just ignored. 

“Being able to deliver treatments using the EchoLaser equipment is of huge benefit to our Trust and will help us reduce our waiting lists and expand our service. It also potentially gives us the opportunity to help prostate cancer patients with this treatment in the future.”

One of the first Royal Surrey patients to benefit from the EchoLaser procedure was Ivor Barrett, 75, from Hindhead. Ivor had been on medication to alleviate the symptoms of having an enlarged prostate for a number of years but found that it was becoming less effective. He was referred for surgery and this was carried out using the new EchoLaser treatment. 

Ivor said: “The procedure was quick, painless and minimally invasive and my recovery has been very rapid and straightforward. I came in on a Friday morning at 7am and I was home by lunchtime. I felt a bit rough on Saturday but was feeling fine by Sunday. I’ve been advised that I wouldn’t see the maximum benefit until about three months after the procedure but there is already an improvement and I’m feeling very positive.

“The problems caused by my enlarged prostate did affect my quality of life. Car journeys and the possibilities of traffic jams were a worry and I had to get up to go to the loo frequently in the night. My consultant was really helpful and reassuring and gave me clear information about the process, which I appreciated. I was given the choice of having the EchoLaser procedure or the alternative surgical process but I opted for the EchoLaser option as it’s less invasive.”