HoLEP Procedure for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)
Holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (HoLEP) is a minimally invasive procedure that uses laser energy to remove excess prostate tissue caused by benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). It may be an option if you're experiencing symptoms such as frequent or urgent urination, nighttime trips to the bathroom, urinary incontinence, difficulty starting your stream, urinary retention, infections, or bladder stones.
HoLEP is the only BPH procedure that can be performed on prostates of any size, making it especially effective for very large prostates or cases involving urinary retention, recurrent infections, or bladder stones.
However, HoLEP may not be suitable if you're unable to lie on your back with your legs raised, as this position is required during the procedure.
This procedure does not involve any incisions on the body and most patients don't require pain medications.
Most patients go home the same day; those who stay are usually discharged within 24 hours. In 95% of cases, the catheter is removed the next day.
Pathologists examine the removed tissue for any potential evidence of prostate cancer.
HoLEP has the lowest retreatment rate of any BPH procedure. It also has the highest likelihood of resolving urinary retention due to enlarged prostate.
An enlarged prostate can be a nuisance, but it’s usually not a serious problem.
