Lenox Hill Hospital Offers New Treatment for Most Common Men’s Health Problem

Advanced laser technology delivers breakthrough solution for enlarged prostate

A new treatment now available at Lenox Hill Hospital may provide relief for men suffering from enlarged prostate. Also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), this noncancerous enlargement of the prostate affects more than half of all men over the age of 60.  By age 80, about 80 percent of all men have BPH.

Treatment options for BPH typically have been limited to medication or an invasive
surgical procedure. Now, men with BPH have the option to choose a minimally invasive surgical treatment known as GreenLight™ Laser Therapy, a quick, outpatient procedure that delivers immediate and dramatic symptom relief without the side effects or expense of medication or the risks associated with invasive surgery. Laser energy is used to remove enlarged prostate tissue resulting in an open channel for urine to flow through, with fewer risks of sexual and other side-effects common with a traditional invasive surgical procedure.  More than 375,000 men worldwide have been treated with this therapy.

Common symptoms of BPH include difficulty in urinating, a reduced urine stream, straining to urinate, frequency of urination, and a feeling that the bladder never completely empties, all which can have a devastating impact on quality of life. The laser system delivers immediate relief of symptoms and dramatic restoration of urine flow. Patients are commonly released within a few short hours and can return to normal non-strenuous activities within days.

 “I have treated numerous patients with this new therapy and they have experienced rapid symptom relief, a dramatic improvement in urinary flow and minimal side effects,” said Ernest Sosa, MD, Chairman of Urology at Lenox Hill Hospital.  “Many have reported that they can once again enjoy things others take for granted, such as going out to eat, going to the movies and playing golf.”

For more information, please contact Lenox Hill Hospital’s Urology Department at 212 434-2190.