A prostatic urethral lift is an outpatient medical procedure to relieve the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia, or enlarged prostate. The details of the procedure are discussed.
A prostatic urethral lift (PUL) is a medical procedure to relieve the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), or enlarged prostate.
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The prostate is a muscular, walnut-sized gland in men that surrounds part of the urethra, the tube that carries urine and sperm out of the body. The prostate produces fluid for semen, the milky liquid in which sperm swims. Sperm is produced in the testicles, which also make the main male hormone testosterone. During puberty (the physical changes leading to adulthood), testosterone stimulates the growth and function of the prostate, and helps with the production of fluid for semen.
BPH, a noncancerous enlargement (growth) of the prostate, is the most common prostate problem in men. Almost all men will develop some enlargement of the prostate as they age.
The symptoms of BPH include:
As BPH symptoms get worse, a man may develop:
The PUL procedure works by separating the enlarged prostate lobes to make the urethra wider, so that it is easier to urinate. The procedure is performed by a urologist, a doctor who specializes in diseases of the urinary system.
In a PUL procedure, the urologist inserts an instrument into the urethra and moves it forward. When the device reaches the lateral (side) wall of the prostate, it ejects small, thin implants into both sides of the prostate, pulling the urethra and prostate to open the channel.
Depending on the size of the prostate, the urologist will place from 2 to 6 implants. Separating the lobes of the prostate in this manner creates an easier pathway for urination, and helps relieve the symptoms of BPH.
For the treatment of BPH, the PUL offers the following advantages:
The PUL procedure cannot be performed on men who have:
In addition, the PUL procedure is difficult to perform on men who have a long urethra.
In studies, up to 11 percent of patients who had the PUL had to have another procedure to relieve BPH—either another PUL, or surgery—within two years.
The main side effects of the PUL procedure are pain in the pelvis and painful urination.
In the short- and medium-term studies, patients’ ability to urinate and their overall quality of life improved significantly after the PUL procedure.
Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 04/10/2019.
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