Prostatic Urethral Lift (Urolift System)
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on May 6, 2024.
What do I need to know about a prostatic urethral lift?
A prostatic urethral lift is a minimally invasive procedure to widen your urethra. The procedure is used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), or enlarged prostate. Prostate tissue is held away from both sides of the urethra with permanent implants. This helps make it easier for you to urinate. A prostatic urethral lift may also be called the UroLift® System.
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How do I prepare for this procedure?
- Your healthcare provider will tell you how to prepare. If you are having general anesthesia, your provider may tell you not to eat or drink after midnight before the procedure. Arrange to have someone drive you home after you are discharged.
- Tell your provider about all medicines you currently take. He or she will tell you if you need to stop taking any medicine for the procedure, and when to stop. If you take blood thinners or aspirin, you may be told to stop about a week before the procedure. Your provider will tell you which medicines to take or not take on the day of the procedure.
- Tell your provider about all your allergies, including antibiotics and anesthesia. Tell him or her if you know you are allergic to stainless steel, nickel, or titanium.
- Your provider will talk to about what to expect when you have sex. You may feel a slight pulling sensation when you ejaculate. It should not be painful, and the pulling feeling should get better with time.
What will happen during the procedure?
- Local anesthesia is usually used for this procedure. You may also be given medicine to help you relax during the procedure. General anesthesia may instead be used to keep you asleep and free from pain during the procedure. You may feel some pressure or feel like you need to urinate during the procedure.
- Your healthcare provider will insert a resectoscope through your urethra. A resectoscope is a tube with a small monitor on the end. The monitor shows your prostate on a screen during the procedure. Your provider will put a device into your urethra. He or she will guide the device up to your prostate. The device will be used to lift and move prostate tissue away from one side of your urethra.
- An implant will be placed to hold the prostate in the new position. Your provider may place 2 to 4 implants. He or she will do the same to prostate tissue on the other side of your urethra.
What should I expect after the procedure?
- You may have some pain in your pelvis or blood in your urine. You may have burning when you urinate. You may feel like you have to urinate urgently or more often. These effects are all expected and should get better within a few weeks.
- Your BPH symptoms should start to improve within a few weeks of the procedure.
What are the risks of a prostatic urethral lift?
You may have incontinence (leaking urine). Scar tissue may build up. You may have trouble having sex, or develop a condition called retrograde ejaculation. This means semen goes into your bladder when you ejaculate. You may have blood clots in your urine that block your urethra. The procedure may not prevent your BPH symptoms from getting worse. You will be able to have a different procedure or surgery to help with symptoms.
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