Greenlight laser

Photoselective vaporisation of the prostate (PVP) using the Greenlight laser was introduced to the UK in 2002 by Neil Barber and both he and Richard Hindley, have performed over a thousand procedures since appointment as consultants in 2004/5 and are recognised as ‘expert’ users. Rather than using electricity to remove tissue to create a wide cavity through the prostate, laser energy is used to vaporise tissue away. The wavelength of the laser means that as tissue is vaporised, there is also a coagulative effect, meaning there is much less bleeding from the prostate compared to TURP/ This means that whilst a post operative catheter is required, bladder irrigation usually isn’t and the catheter can therefore be removed predictably quickly, often the next day. High quality trials have confirmed equivalence with TURP in terms of the levels of symptom improvement but with the benefit of a shorter time spent in hospital with a catheter.

BAUS info sheet

http://www.greenlightxps.co.uk/