Laser treatment of benign prostate enlargement, what is HoLEP?

Benign prostate enlargement is a common disease in men over 50 years of age. Here, the enlarged prostate gland compresses the urinary canal, causing complaints such as frequent urination, interrupted urination, dripping, and inability to urinate in later periods. It is the abbreviation of HOLEP (Holmium Laser Enuclation of Prostate). Laser is the most up-to-date treatment method of benign prostate enlargement (BPH, benign prostate hyperplasia).

How is HOLEP surgery performed?

HOLEP surgery is an operation method performed under general or spinal (anesthetized from the waist down) anesthesia in operating room conditions. The part of the prostate that presses the urethra (urinary canal) and makes urination difficult by entering the urinary canal from the penis is separated from the prostate capsule (membrane) by laser and pushed into the bladder, then the tissues in the bladder are divided into very small pieces (morcellation) and removed from the urinary canal and the operation is completed by attaching a catheter to the bladder. In laser surgery with HOLEP, there is no incision in the body.

Which patients is HOLEP applied to?

In benign prostate enlargement, if the complaints are not too much, drug therapy relieves patients in the early stages, but over time, drug therapy becomes ineffective and surgery is required.

Conditions that require surgery in benign prostatic enlargement include:

If drug therapy is ineffective
If there are stones or diverticulum in the bladder
If there is bleeding
If the patient’s complaints are too much
If excess urine remains in the bladder after urination (if the bladder does not empty completely)
If you urinate a lot at night and have disturbed sleep patterns
If you have frequent urinary tract infections
If the patient has an obstruction (inability to urinate)

Patient HOLEP is an operating (surgical) method that is applied to all patients with benign prostatic enlargement (BPH) and is now considered the “gold standard”. HOLEP is a safe and successful operation in all patients with the above conditions.

How many days do HOLEP patients stay in the hospital, when is the probe removed?

After HOLEP surgery, patients stay in the hospital for 1-2 days, the catheter is removed on the 2nd day.

What are the advantages of Holep treatment?

Patients are hospitalized less
There is less bleeding
There is no risk of recurrence of the prostate
Sexual functions are not affected
There is no urinary incontinence (it happens very little in the early period, it improves over time)

How much does Holep surgery cost?

The cost of HOLEP surgery varies depending on whether the patient has additional diseases or the size of the prostate. After the urological examination, it is possible to give more accurate information to the patients.

Prof. Dr. Emin ÖZBEK

Urology Specialist