What is Green Light Laser Prostate Treatment
Green Light Laser Prostate Treatment is a procedure that uses a high-energy laser to get rid of extra prostate tissue by turning the tissue into a vapor.
It is less invasive than traditional methods of prostate surgery, which involve cutting out the prostate tissue. Because the tissue is turned into a vapor (vaporized) rather than cut out, there is generally less blood loss.
This surgery is used to treat an enlarged prostate gland (benign prostatic hyperplasia).
Tell a health care provider about:
- Any allergies you have.
- All medicines you are taking, including vitamins, herbs, eye drops, creams, and over-the-counter medicines.
- Any problems you or family members have had with anesthetic medicines.
- Any blood disorders you have.
- Any surgeries you have had.
- Any medical conditions you have.
What are the risks?
Generally, this is a safe procedure. However, problems may occur, including:
- Infection.
- Bleeding.
- Allergic reaction to medicines.
- Damage to other structures or organs.
- Blood in the urine (hematuria).
- Painful urination.
- Urinary tract infection.
- Erectile dysfunction (rare).
- Dry ejaculation.
- Scar tissue in the urinary passage.
What happens before the procedure?
Staying hydrated
Follow instructions from your health care provider about hydration, which may include:
- Up to 2 hours before the procedure – you may continue to drink clear liquids, such as water, clear fruit juice, black coffee, and plain tea.
Eating and drinking restrictions
Follow instructions from your health care provider about eating and drinking, which may include:
- 8 hours before the procedure – stop eating heavy meals or foods such as meat, fried foods, or fatty foods.
- 6 hours before the procedure – stop eating light meals or foods, such as toast or cereal.
- 6 hours before the procedure – stop drinking milk or drinks that contain milk.
- 2 hours before the procedure – stop drinking clear liquids.
Medicines
- Ask
your health care provider about:
- Changing or stopping your regular medicines. This is especially important if you are taking diabetes medicines or blood thinners.
- Taking medicines such as aspirin and ibuprofen. These medicines can thin your blood. Do nottake these medicines before your procedure if your health care provider instructs you not to.
- You may be prescribed antibiotic medicine. If so, take your antibiotic as told by your health care provider. Do notstop taking the antibiotic even if you start to feel better.
General instructions
- Plan to have someone take you home from the hospital or clinic.
- If you will be going home right after the procedure, plan to have someone with you for 24 hours.
What happens during the procedure?
- To
reduce your risk of infection:
- Your health care team will wash or sanitize their hands.
- Your skin will be washed with soap.
- You
will be given one or more of the following:
- A medicine to help you relax (sedative).
- A medicine to make you fall asleep (general anesthetic).
- A medicine that is injected into your spine to numb the area below and slightly above the injection site (spinal anesthetic).
- A tube containing viewing scopes and instruments (fiber-optic scope) will be inserted through your penis.
- A thin fiber will be put through the tube and positioned next to the extra prostate tissue.
- Pulses of laser light will come from the end of the fiber and be projected onto the extra tissue. Your blood will absorb the light, become hot, and vaporize the extra prostate tissue.
- The heat from the laser beam will seal off the blood vessels, which will lessen bleeding.
- The fiber-optic scope will be removed and replaced with a temporary tube (catheter) that is used to help urine flow.
The procedure may vary among health care providers and hospitals.
What happens after the procedure?
- Your blood pressure, heart rate, breathing rate, and blood oxygen level will be monitored until the medicines you were given have worn off.
- Depending on factors such as the amount of prostate tissue that was vaporized, the strength of your bladder, and the amount of bleeding expected, your catheter may be removed.
- You may be given elastic support stockings to wear to help prevent blood clots in your legs.
- Do notdrive for 24 hours if you were given a sedative, or for as long as directed by your health care provider.
Summary
- Green light laser therapy is a procedure that uses a high-energy laser that turns extra prostate tissue into a vapor.
- This procedure is less invasive than traditional methods of prostate surgery.
- Follow instructions from your health care provider about eating and drinking before the procedure.
- Pulses of laser light will come from the end of a thin fiber and be aimed at the extra prostate tissue. Your blood will absorb the light, become hot, and vaporize the extra tissue.
Green Light Laser Prostate Treatment, Care After
This sheet gives you information about how to care for yourself after your procedure. Your health care provider may also give you more specific instructions. If you have problems or questions, contact your health care provider.
What can I expect after the procedure?
After the procedure, it is common to have:
- Swelling and discomfort around your urethra. The opening of the urethra is at the end of the penis.
- Blood in your urine. This should go away after a few days.
- Trouble urinating or sudden need to urinate (urgency). These problems should get better over time. You may continue to have a thin tube (catheter) inserted into your urethra to help drain your urine from your bladder for a few days after the procedure.
Follow these instructions at home:
Medicines
- Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your health care provider.
- If you were prescribed an antibiotic medicine, take it as told by your health care provider. Do notstop taking the antibiotic even if you start to feel better.
Bathing
- Do nottake baths, swim, or use a hot tub until your health care provider approves. Ask your health care provider if you may take showers. You may only be allowed to take sponge baths.
Activity
- Do notdrive for 24 hours if you were given a medicine to help you relax (sedative) during your procedure.
- Do notdrive or use heavy machinery while taking prescription pain medicine.
Ask your health care provider what activities are safe for you. Most people can return to normal activities within a few days.
- Do nothave sex or engage in sexual activity until your health care provider approves.
- Do not lift anything that is heavier than 10 lb (4.5 kg), or the limit that you are told, until your health care provider says that it is safe.
General instructions
- If
you have a urinary catheter, care for it as told by your health care
provider. This may include:
- Washing your hands before and after touching the catheter.
- Emptying your drainage bag when it is ⅓–½ full, or emptying it at least 2–3 times a day.
- Keeping the area around the catheter clean and dry.
- Avoiding any bends or breaks in the catheter.
- Keeping air out of the catheter.
- Making sure that the catheter is not placed under water.
- Do not use any products that contain nicotine or tobacco, such as cigarettes and e-cigarettes. If you need help quitting, ask your health care provider.
- Drink enough fluid to keep your urine pale yellow.
Keep all follow-up visits as told by your health care provider. This is important.
Contact a health care provider if:
- You
have trouble:
- Having a bowel movement.
- Getting an erection.
- You have swelling around your urethra and it gets worse.
- You have blood in your urine for more than 2 days after the procedure.
- You have pain or burning when you urinate, or other problems that do not go away or cause discomfort.
- You have problems with your catheter or your catheter is blocked.
- You have a fever.
- You have nausea or you vomit.
- You have swelling in your legs.
Get help right away if:
- Your urine has blood clots in it.
- Your urine is dark red.
- You cannot urinate after your catheter is removed.
- You have blood in your stool.
- You have severe pain that does not get better with medicine.
- You have shortness of breath.
Summary
- After the procedure, it is common to have swelling and discomfort around your urethra and blood in your urine for a few days.
- Some men may have problems urinating after this procedure. These problems should go away after a few days. If you have pain or burning while urinating, contact your health care provider.
- If you have a catheter after this procedure, care for it as told by your health care provider.
- If you have severe pain, dark red urine, or urine with blood clots, get medical help right away.
