Before presenting this new method, let us remember that the prostate is a small gland located in the pelvic cavity in men.
Relatively little developed during childhood, the prostate doubles in size during puberty to reach its final dimensions throughout adult life. However, the prostate ends up gradually hypertrophying, generally after the age of 50. It is precisely at this time of life that the first problems related to the prostate can arise…
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is therefore the increase in the size of the prostate caused by a proliferation (hyperplasia) of cells in the prostate. However, BPH is a non-cancerous (benign) condition.
This new method therefore consists of injecting water vapor into several specific areas of the prostate using a special needle, under visual control by camera. Each injection lasts only 10 seconds and the procedure, carried out under general anesthesia, takes between 10 and 15 minutes. Hospitalization is on an outpatient basis, allowing patients to return home the same day. After the operation, a bladder catheter is placed and removed at home by a nurse between three and five days after the operation.
The beneficial effects of the treatment begin to appear from the second week following the procedure, with optimal results achieved after three months. This treatment helps relieve urinary symptoms without requiring long-term medication, providing a long-lasting alternative to traditional treatments.
Compared to other surgical prostate treatments, this technique reduces the risk of retrograde ejaculation, a side effect often linked to these procedures. With the REZUM procedure, this risk is limited to 12%.
Additionally, the five-year retreatment rate is relatively low, estimated at 15%, of which only 4% require further surgery. Thanks to this innovation, the Robert Schuman Hospital is the first hospital in the region to offer a solution that aims to be “both safe and effective for patients with BPH”.
