Another option for BPH. I would like to see more data in a year or two, but it seems promising.

The US Food and Drug Administration has approved a new catheter designed to treat urinary tract symptoms of an enlarged prostate, also known as benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH).

Designed and marketed by Urotronic (Plymouth, Minnesota), the Optilume BPH Catheter System employs mechanical dilation to relieve obstruction of the prostate and then delivers paclitaxel to aid in prostate healing. The device is used in an outpatient setting and is less invasive than other procedures.

"There's nothing else like Optilume BPH that's currently available, it's the only treatment option that requires no cutting, burning, steaming, or implants," said Urotronic President and CEO David Perry in a press release.

Two randomized trials, EVEREST-1 and PINNACLE, both showed that the Optilume BPH system improved urinary flow rate and decreased the amount of urine stored in the bladder following urination. Men who used the OPTILUME device were able to ejaculate normally and reported no sexual difficulties.

"Optilume BPH is the next generation of minimally invasive technology, creating a new drug device space among BPH therapies," said Steven A. Kaplan, MD, professor of urology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City, in the press release. Kaplan led the EVEREST-1 and PINNACLE studies, which Urotronic funded.

More than 80% of men older than age 70 have an enlarged prostate, based on autopsy analyses.

LINK: https://www.medscape.com/viewa...id5685042&uac=65325S

Whoa, it would be nice to get off the Flomax.

My urethra is a one-way street.

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
My urethra is a one-way street.

Someday it may just be a bike path…

Nobody goes near my junk with 'a device'...

quote:

minimally invasive technology

Urologists and proctologists have a warped view of minimally invasive.

Their definition: We're going to jam a catheter up your wiener, once we get to your prostate we're going to pump up a mechanical dilator until you think you're going to die, and we promise one day you'll heal enough to be able to have sex.

My definition: I keep my pants on and you stay on your side of the room. The only thing invasive are the questions.

Nope...The FDA does not have a particularly good track record re: approval of 'devices', or anything else for that matter as of late! Sorry, Hard Pass!

I’d give it a go before letting them send a roto-rooter up…

I have an enlarged prostate. three times the average size.

Have been on a drug called finasteride for a year. (shrinks the prostate) PSA dropped from 5.0 to 1.2

My urologist said it doesn't work for everyone, but when it does work it is usually very effective

He thought my PSA may continue to drop some.

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
My urethra is a one-way street.

Only until it becomes completely road blocked......

Wonder what the long term effect of having paclitaxel injected into your prostate is?

Paclitaxel is a type of chemotherapy called a taxane. Taxanes interfere with structures in a cell called microtubules that help move chromosomes during mitosis (cell division). Paclitaxel stops the growth of cancer cells and other dividing cells by blocking cell division.

"Designed and marketed by Urotronic (Plymouth, Minnesota), the Optilume BPH Catheter System employs mechanical dilation to relieve obstruction of the prostate and then delivers paclitaxel to aid in prostate healing. The device is used in an outpatient setting and is less invasive than other procedures."

I dunno, I keep picturing a bicycle pump and one of those skinny balloons they make balloon animals out of.

They don't mention the required implements for the procedure.... DAMN!

quote:

Originally posted by medic451:

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
My urethra is a one-way street.

Someday it may just be a bike path…

Or a Subway.

Sounds very promising. So far I am managing it well with flomax every other day and saw palmetto daily. I just have to be careful not to drink too much caffeine as it diminishes the effect of the medication.

I have two urologists--one for my bladder cancer, and one for my kidney stones and BPH.
The bladder cancer specialist told me every 5 years or so a new BPH procedure is approved when the long-term results of the last one prove disappointing. Once Medicare approves a new procedure, that becomes king of the hill for a while until it's replaced by the next one.
UroLift was hot, now it's not.
Rezume is hot now, like superheated steam injected into your urethra with needles hot. Somehow I can't get excited about that one.
I guess I'm just going to have to drink less coffee and carbonated drinks to decrease the urgency and frequency.

quote:

the Optilume BPH Catheter System employs mechanical dilation to relieve obstruction of the prostate

It should have been Peter Rooter.

quote:

UroLift was hot, now it's not.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Maybe the new device will get the terribly annoying Urolift commercial off television.