Men with prostate problems can now receive less invasive treatment at Colchester General Hospital that allows them to get back on their feet quicker.

The procedure, called a UroLift, is being used on patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a common condition affecting one in three men which causes the prostate to enlarge and press on the bladder, leading to difficulties with urination.

It sees a urologist place tiny implants in the body to hold the prostate lobes apart and relieve compression, allowing urine to flow normally again.

Performed using local anaesthetic, the procedure takes just 10 minutes to complete and can be carried out in either an operating theatre or outpatient setting.

Patients get almost instant results and are able to return home the same day.

It is estimated around 75% of the 300 BPH patients who require surgery each year at Colchester will be suitable for the UroLift procedure. The remainder will have either laser treatment or an operation called transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), both of which remove part of the tissue and were previously the only surgeries offered for BPH at the hospital.

Rajiv Pillai, consultant urological surgeon, worked with colleague Sam Datta to bring the procedure to Colchester. He completed the first five cases earlier this month, and received excellent feedback from patients.

“BPH can greatly affect a man’s quality of life, as it can mean they have to get up frequently in the night to use the toilet, can be caught short or have poor flow and trouble urinating,” said Mr Pillai.

“This new procedure will allow us to treat more men quickly and safely. Unlike other treatments, the UroLift does not involve the removal of tissue so does not need a general anaesthetic, which reduces risk. It also causes less pain and means patients can recover much more quickly, in turn helping to free up our operating theatres and beds for more complex cases.

“The UroLift also brings added benefits for younger patients as it does not compromise sexual function. The results are also instant, which means the patient can return to work after just a couple of days off.

“In addition, the procedure only takes around ten minutes to complete, whereas laser treatment can take up to three hours and a TURP around 90 minutes. That means we can potentially treat far more men each day than we could previously, in turn ensuring they receive prompt treatment while improving their experience of receiving care at Colchester Hospital.”

Although BPH is more common in men aged 50 and over, it can affect those of any age. Any man who is having difficulties urinating should seek advice from their GP.