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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.
