Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)
The prostate gland is a male reproductive organ located between the bladder neck and the urethra. It is shaped like a walnut and surrounds the urethra. The normal size of the prostate gland is similar to that of a walnut. Benign prostatic hyperplasia is a common condition in men over the age of 40, where the enlarged prostate compresses the urethra, causing urinary problems. About half of men over 50 years old experience symptoms of prostate enlargement, including slow urine flow, weak urine stream, urgency, frequency, and nocturia.
Doctors will examine the prostate gland to assess the degree of obstruction, which may include uroflowmetry to measure urine flow rate, ultrasound to evaluate the size of the gland, and tests to assess bladder and kidney function.
In the early stages, medication can be used to alleviate symptoms. If the condition
worsens or complications such as persistent hematuria, urinary tract infection, bladder stones, or acute urinary retention due to severe prostate obstruction occur, surgical treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia may be necessary. Various transurethral resection procedures for prostate enlargement are available, including traditional transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), bipolar prostate resection, Holmium
laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP), and Thulium laser prostate vaporization. These procedures are suitable for patients with different prostate volumes. In recent years, there have been innovative minimally invasive surgical approaches introduced in Hong Kong, including Urolift, Rezum, and Aquablation, which allow patients who are not suitable for general or regional anesthesia to undergo surgical treatment.
