Rezum Water Vapor Therapy for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) or prostate enlargement
GUA is the first centre of excellence in the Canary Islands to treat BPH (enlarged prostate). Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a condition in which a man's prostate enlarges and squeezes the urethra, causing symptoms such as frequent or urgent urination, weak or interrupted urine flow and the need to get up several times at night to urinate.
Details of Steam Water Therapy
What is steam therapy?
REZUM or steam therapy is a treatment to treat prostate hyperplasia by steam instillation. It generates the destruction of the tissue (necrosis) and prostatic unblocking to be able to urinate without difficulty, without the possible side effects of drugs and being able to preserve ejaculation which is the expulsion of semen during orgasm.
How is the procedure carried out?
As it is a minimally invasive procedure, it does not require patients to be hospitalized, so after treatment patients sleep at home (outpatient procedure).
During each 9-second shot, natural water vapour is released through the targeted prostate tissue. When the steam comes into contact with the tissue and turns back into water, all the stored energy is released, destroying the excess prostate cells. Over time, the body's natural healing response absorbs the destroyed cells and shrinks the prostate. Through this procedure, the urethra opens, reducing BPH symptoms. Depending on the size of the prostate, the number of steam shots varies.
Is the procedure painful?
The therapy can be performed under sedation or local anaesthesia and does not require general anaesthesia. There are options available to maximise comfort during the procedure which will be determined by the physician.
Which patients benefit from this treatment?
Patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia between 30 and 80 cc3 who wish to be able to ejaculate after prostate surgery.
It is a very well tolerated process that can be performed in 10 minutes in expert hands.
Is anesthesia necessary?
It does not require general anesthesia, unless the patient requests it, so the procedure can be performed under local anesthesia, since it is a short procedure.
How is the recovery after surgery?
The patient will have to wear a catheter for 5-7 days to avoid urinary discomfort after the procedure. Wearing the catheter is not painful and patients usually tolerate it well along with the prescribed medication.
After treatment with Vapor Therapy, most men return to their normal activities within a few days. Our leading specialists will make personal recommendations on resumption of activity.
Is it a definitive and safe procedure?
Water Vapor Therapy has undergone extensive clinical trials to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the treatment. It is now included in the Spanish Association of Urology's Prostatic Hyperplasia treatment guidelines and has follow-up data over 5 years showing its ability to treat prostates with hyperplasia in prostates between 30 and 80 cc3.
Vapor Therapy has undergone extensive clinical trials to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the treatment. It is now included in the BPH treatment guidelines of the Spanish, American and European Association of Urology and has four-year follow-up data showing its ability to treat prostates between 30-80 grams, although increasingly larger prostates are being treated. During the four years, trials have shown a surgical retreatment rate of only 4.4% and no new major adverse events were observed and with preservation of ejaculation in more than 95% of cases.
