Laser technology has taken aim at the most common health problem in men worldwide. Now, men in Oklahoma and surrounding states have access to a new laser treatment for non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate, a condition more common than most realize.

Robert Baker is one of more than 14 million American men with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia or BPH. BPH is a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate that can cause life-limiting symptoms including: difficulty urinating, frequent urination and an urgent need for urination. It affects half of all men over the age of 50.

“BPH can have devastating effects on the quality of a person’s life, ranging from sleeplessness to avoiding going out in public places, for fear of an accident,” said Carson Wong, MD, FRCSC, FACS of OU Physicians. Wong is Oklahoma’s only fellowship trained urologist in Endourology, Laparoscopy and Minimally Invasive Surgery.

He stated medication has been the front-line treatment, but for some like Baker, daily medication brings inadequate relief, unwanted side effects or proves too expensive.

“Traditionally, these patients have had to proceed to the old “roto-rooter” or trans-urethral prostate resection,” said Wong. “That is an operation that typically requires a hospital stay and the procedure itself is not without inherent risks.

Enter the Green Light PVP Laser or Photo-selective Vaporization of the Prostate, offered by Wong at the OU MEDICAL CENTER. He explained it is a new treatment option for men with BPH that utilizes a very high-powered, green light laser to immediately vaporize and precisely remove the enlarged prostate tissue causing urinary flow obstruction.

Wong said it is a low-risk procedure, done on an out-patient basis, with virtually no blood loss and almost immediate results. It also preserves sexual function.

“Our belief is this is the state of the art as far as treatment for benign prostate disease,” remarked Wong, adding the procedure has been proven an effective treatment for non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate. In fact he said it is as effective as the traditional surgical fix, but with fewer risks and fewer potentially serious side effects. He noted patients are usually out of the hospital just hours after the procedure and need only a few days for recovery.

“I was up that afternoon,” said Baker of his experience with the Green Light Laser procedure. Baker added he was feeling good and already back to woodworking and his other regular activities within days.

Dr. Wong stressed the Green Light PVP laser is not a treatment for prostate cancer. For more information, contact OU Physicians at 271-2222.