Are you considering undergoing a Rezūm treatment, but are apprehensive about the procedure? Have you been reading all about Rezūm, but are getting lost in the technical information about it?
If you have answered yes to either of these questions, read on.
Choosing to undergo a medical procedure, even if minimally invasive, can be a tough decision. Patients often get lost in the myriad of websites and medical articles about the subject. At SanoMed Prostate, we understand that deciding on a treatment is not easy. We hope that this article will bring some light on the Rezūm experience. We also invite you to take the one-minute BPH quiz.
Complex surgeries are no longer the only way to treat conditions that require the ablation of dysfunctional tissue. Many conditions can now be treated with minimally invasive procedures, and an increasing amount of minimally invasive treatments use heat to ablate tissue. Rezūm uses steam to do this.
In a nutshell, Rezūm uses vapour heat to damage cells located in the prostate tissue that is causing your BPH symptoms. With those cells gone, your body will naturally heal itself, causing the prostate to decrease in size and no longer obstruct the urethra. The treatment is safe and will not damage any other healthy tissue.
If you wish to understand what happens inside the urethra during the Rezūm therapy, a detailed explanation and a video of the medical process of Rezūm is available on our previous post entitled “What Happens During a Rezūm Procedure”. However, for now, let’s answer some popular concerns about undergoing the Rezūm therapy.
Rezūm can be a beneficial procedure for several types of patients experiencing BPH related symptoms.
The first step to understanding the severity of your BPH symptoms would be to take the BPH Symptoms Quiz. This is a short one-minute quiz that will help you understand the status of your BPH symptoms. However, this test does not replace a medical examination, and is just a tool to help you explain your symptoms during your medical assessment with your doctor. Your urologist will then determine if the Rezūm treatment is the right option for you based on your overall health, symptoms and personal treatment goals.
Your medical appointment prior to undergoing the Rezūm treatment will feel much like a very personal conversation. Your doctor will ask you about your medical history, your symptoms and other questions involving urination and sexual intercourse. You may also be asked to track the amounts of fluids that you drink. Your doctor might also dig deeper into your family medical history and previous surgical procedures you have undergone. This is done to help avoid any unnecessary complications.
During your medical appointment, your doctor will use a flow rate bladder scan to see how well you are emptying your bladder. The doctor may also perform a prostate ultrasound and take a telescopic look at the prostate.
With all this information in hand, your physician will review the possible complications and contraindications with you to ensure that a good decision is made and that you have your questions answered.
Before undergoing the procedure, you will be provided with detailed instructions on pre- and postoperative care. You may find preparation instructions to be easy since the intervention is non-surgical.
Your doctor will provide you with an antibiotic prescription that should be started the night before the treatment. Anti-inflammatories are given the day before and after the procedure. An alpha blocker prescription may also be given to improve the flow of urine after the treatment.
Some medications increase a person’s chance of bleeding and it may be recommended to discontinue them for a period of time before the procedure is performed.
Other recommendations before the treatment include:
On the day of the treatment, it is recommended to eat a light meal and drink lots of fluids.
Upon arriving, you will be instructed to eliminate urine and the bladder will then be checked. If there is still more urine in the bladder, it will be drained to avoid having to drain it during the intervention.
It is important to relax before your procedure. If you are feeling nervous, advise your doctor. You may be given medication to help you relax.
Before the intervention, your penis and prostate will be numbed. The Rezūm device will then be inserted. The procedure itself is quick. Depending on the size of your prostate, you may need two to seven injections, each nine seconds long. You will remain awake during the treatment which lasts approximately 5 minutes.
Due to possible swelling after the procedure, a catheter will then be inserted. The catheter will remain for a period of 2 to 5 days. The catheter is hooked to a bag that stays on the leg and is covered by pants.
After the treatment, you will be able to go home. We recommend that a driver takes you. We recommend that patients rest for three days before resuming their normal activities. It is important to avoid strenuous activities for up to two weeks following the procedure. We also advise patients to avoid ejaculation until complete healing takes place.
Most patients start to see improvement in their BPH symptoms and treatment side effects approximately two weeks after the therapy. However, improvement is gradual and varies from one patient to another. You will be able to know the full benefits of your treatment within 3 months of your procedure.
Rezūm is a minimally-invasive procedure and has fewer side effects than traditional surgery. However, as with any intervention, some of the following side effects may occur for a short period of time:
You should start to see fewer and less severe urinary symptoms a few weeks following the procedure. Your doctor will advise you on ways to potentially minimize the effects of these risks. The following options may help relieve discomfort during the short-term healing process:
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