Physician FAQs about the UroLift System^®

Summa Health is pleased to offer the UroLift^® System, a minimally invasive approach to treating benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in men over the age of 45. Ideal for those with urinary tract symptoms that desire further improvement, it is designed to relieve BPH symptoms while preserving sexual function. What’s more, if a patient does not experience desired results, all other treatment options are still viable.

 

Components of the UroLift^® System

1. What is the UroLift^® Delivery Device?
The UroLift^® Delivery Device is a single-use, sterile medical device that contains one UroLift Implant. Patients typically require four-six implants during a UroLift System treatment. The Delivery Device is inserted transurethrally through a rigid sheath under cystoscopic visualization in order to reach the
targeted area of obstruction.

2. What is the UroLift Implant?
UroLift Implants are small permanent implants that hold the obstructing prostatic lobes apart. They are deployed through a needle that comes out of the delivery device. Each implant is made with common implantable materials: nitinol, stainless steel, and suture. Typically, four to six implants are placed into the prostate.

 

UroLift^® System Procedure

1. Who is a good candidate for the UroLift System treatment?
Good candidate are male, 45 years of age or older, with symptoms relating to BPH. 

2. What is the UroLift System treatment?
The FDA-cleared UroLift System is the only treatment that uses the Prostatic Urethral Lift (PUL) procedure. The UroLift System is a proven, minimally invasive approach for treating lower urinary tract symptoms due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) that can get men off BPH medications and avoid major surgery. The UroLift System’s permanent implants, delivered during a minimally invasive outpatient procedure, relieve prostate obstruction and open the urethra directly without cutting, heating, or removing prostate tissue. As with any medical procedure, individual results may vary.

Most common side effects are mild to moderate and include pain or burning with urination, blood in the urine, pelvic pain, urgent need to urinate and/or the inability to control the urge. Most symptoms resolve within two to four weeks after the procedure.

3. How does the UroLift System work?
The UroLift System consists of a delivery device and tiny permanent implants.

• The UroLift Delivery Device is placed through the obstructed urethra.

• Small UroLift Implants are placed to lift or hold the enlarged prostate tissue out of the way. The Implants are delivered through a small needle that comes out of the delivery device and into the prostate.

• The UroLift Delivery Device is removed, leaving an open urethra that provides symptom relief. One unique aspect of the UroLift System is that it does not preclude retreatment or BPH treatments, such as transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) or laser should they be required in the future.

4. Is the treatment permanent or can it be removed?
Implants are intended to be permanent. The implant is made up of standard surgical implantable materials: a nitinol capsular tab, a stainless steel urethral tab, and polyethylene suture that holds the two tabs together. A doctor can simply remove the urethral implant, if needed. The suture can be cut and the urethral endpiece can be retrieved with a standard grasper. The capsular tab will remain in place inside the body.

5. Who performs the UroLift System treatment?
A urologist uses the UroLift System to treat urinary symptoms due to BPH. Comprehensive training is
provided to the urologist prior to using the UroLift System.

 

Clinical

1. How does the UroLift System treatment compare to other treatment options?
The UroLift System treatment has been found to be a safe andeffective treatment for symptoms related to BPH. Its risk profile is better than most traditional surgical options, and patients report symptom relief better than reported with medications. In the large, pivotal study on the UroLift System there were no instances of new, sustained erectile dysfunction or ejaculatory dysfunction.¹

2. What clinical data is available?
We have over 25 peer-reviewed publications demonstrating the UroLift System is safe and effective. Improvement in urinary symptoms, as seen through reduction in IPSS (International Prostate Symptom Score), has been consistent across the various studies, showing rapid relief in as early as two weeks and sustained effect to five years.²

3. What are the side effects?
In our clinical studies, the most common side effects reported were mild to moderate and include pain or burning with urination, blood in the urine, pelvic pain, urgent need to urinate and/or the inability to control the urge. Most symptoms resolved within two to four weeks after the procedure.¹

For more information, visit the UroLift® System Treatment patient page. 

To refer a patient to Summa Health Medical Group – Urology, please call 330.374.1255, fax a referral form to 234.312.2306 or use your electronic medical record (EMR) system to send an electronic referral.

 

Sources
1. Abrams, et al., Neurourology and Urodynamics 2002; Maximilian, et al., BJU Intl 2012
2. Roehrborn et al. Journal of Urology 2013 LIFT Study