ARNHEM – Rijnstate Clinics offers a solution for men with urinary symptoms caused by an enlarged prostate, whereby they do not run the risk of becoming impotent. The UroLift treatment. Rijnstate is the fifth hospital in the Netherlands to offer this treatment.
More than 30 percent of men in the Netherlands over the age of 50 have urinary complaints due to a benign prostate enlargement. For example, a strong urge to urinate, a feeling of not being able to empty the bladder or a slow or interrupted stream of urine. They have to get out of bed several times a night to urinate and sleep badly because of this. There should always be a toilet nearby, even during the day. The symptoms affect daily life. Sometimes it even leads to depression.
Alternative to medication or surgery
dr. Vrooman, urologist at Rijnstate Clinics, explains: “The prostate surrounds the urethra. As the prostate gets bigger, it squeezes the urethra further and further. This causes urinary symptoms. There are various treatment options, including: depending on the size of the prostate. Men often first take medication for their complaints. But this relief may be insufficient or only temporary. We are pleased to be able to offer patients UroLift treatment as an alternative to medication or surgery.”
“In the UroLift treatment, we insert small clamps through the urethra, which hold the enlarged prostate tissue aside. This relieves pressure on the urethra and makes urination easier. Because we don’t have to cut the prostate or heat the tissue, patients recover quickly. The treatment also has no influence on ejaculation and getting an erection. We perform the treatment in the outpatient clinic under local anaesthetic. We are one of two hospitals in the Netherlands that does this in this way. Patients are normally allowed to go home the same day, without a catheter.”
Walking the dog again
mr. Schoonderbeek (79) from Arnhem is one of the first patients to be helped with the UroLift treatment at Rijnstate Clinics. “As soon as I got the urge to pee, I had to go to the toilet. I couldn’t hold it. This made me not want to go out anymore. I couldn’t even walk the dog. My doctor in Rijnstate then pointed me to this treatment. I experienced almost no pain during the procedure and was immediately discharged from the hospital. At home I recovered very quickly and I am much better now. I can hold my pee for longer and I can even walk the dog again.”
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