HoLEPA gold standard for BPH treatment

Men with an enlarged prostate now have a minimally-invasive surgical option. Our UW Health surgeons use laser techniques (meaning no incision is needed) to remove tissue that blocks urine flow. Patients go home the same day and recover faster.

Overview

A different approach to treatment

As men age, their prostate gland enlarges which can cause difficulty and discomfort while urinating. It can also lead to blockage or problems with the bladder and kidneys. This is known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

Medication may help but when the problems become severe, it’s time to look at surgical interventions. Based on a patient’s age and overall health, there are different types of surgeries for BPH including laser surgery and an open prostatectomy which removes part of the prostate to improve urine flow.

About

Why choose the HoLEP procedure?

A gold standard for the surgical treatment of BPH is Holmium laser enucleation of the prostate or HoLEP.

The HoLEP procedure is a minimally invasive surgical treatment that can cure BPH. Ten years after having the procedure 99% of men no longer need to take medication to manage their BPH and they do not require additional surgery.

This outpatient procedure allows your doctor to use a scope with a high-powered laser to remove the excess prostate tissue that is causing the discomfort and blockage. There is less bleeding, faster recovery and because it is done as outpatient surgery, there is no overnight hospital stay.

Locations

Providing you with the best care

For your convenience, the HoLEP procedure is offered at two UW Health Urology locations.

Meet our team

Experts here for you

Drs. Dan Gralnek and Christopher Manakas perform more than 30 HoLEP procedures each month.

Urology
Urology

Treatment process

How the process works

Are you a Candidate for HoLEP

HoLEP is ideal for men with large prostates that have:

  • Bothersome urinary symptoms (Slow Flow, interrupted flow, day and nighttime frequency, urinary urgency)

  • Are catheter dependent

  • Recurrent UTIs

  • Bladder stones

What happens during the procedure

  • General or spinal anesthesia is given as well as antibiotics

  • Your surgeon will use a camera to view your prostate

  • A laser is used to remove the tissue that is causing the problem

  • The blood vessels will be sealed 

  • A catheter will be inserted

After the HoLEP procedure

  • Some bleeding is common

  • Fluid will be flushed through your catheter

  • Eating and drinking are permitted, increased fluid intake is encouraged to keep the urine flowing

Patient support and services

Help for today’s patients and an eye toward the future

Urology at UW Health is consistently ranked among the country’s top programs. We take part in many clinical trials and research programs as we pursue new approaches to patient care. 

Urology Research

Learn more about urology research.

Achieving success one patient at a time

UW Health Urology is recognized as a top national program for providing new and effective approaches to treatment. Although we do thousands of complex procedures every year, the care we provide you is the most important.

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