Technical and computer controlled biomedicine are the main pillars of this procedure that has been practiced first in the 90th. The very conservative approach and out patient procedure are always attracting more patients to prefer it, in particular the elderly. The therapy is also used for the treatment and alleviation of pain in cases of resistant chronic prostatitis.

The prostate is the male gland situated  underneath the bladder neck and resting on the muscles of the pelvic flour. It surrounds a part of the urethra. It is composed of two lateral lobes, the median lobe and the so called seminal vesicle. This is a small rounded part at the tapered region of the prostate distally where the semen ejects during ejaculation and is considered as the lowest limit of the prostate during operations.

The prostate is responsible for the secretion of the largest part of the semen and is highly influenced by the male hormone testosterone. It enlarges at aging causing trouble at micturition. The mechanism of enlargement is not yet understood. The treatment is usually medical or surgical.

The prostate may be chronically infected by the so called chronic prostatitis. This affects young males in the reproductive age. This is sometimes very resistant for treatment by medications or physical methods.
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Prostate Anatomy
a = bladder / b = bladder neck
c = right prostate lobe / d = left prostatic lobe
s = seed hill / f = urethra
g = capsule of the prostate gland / h = nerves and blood vessels of the prostate
i = adductor

Accumulation of alpha-2 receptors at the bladder neck
a = bladder neck
b = alpha-2 receptors

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Who is qualified for the operation?

Patients who do not profit from medications or have agonising symptoms in particular the irrigative ones for example running for bladder evacuation in urgency, burning during bladder evacuation and patients suffering from disturbed sleep have to be operated upon by one of the non invasive methods, namely thermotherapy or laser coagulation.

Patients who do not want to take the risk of  being operated because of bleeding, incontinence or urethral stricture may profit also from thermotherapy.

Patients who fail to respond to medical therapy for their chronic prostatitis, profit from thermotherapy as the increased temperature improves the blood supply which washes the irritating elements in the area and also helps  the better  approach and distribution  of medications to the tissues which improves the symptoms greatly.

How does the operation work?

The advantage of the treatment is that it is done without operation, on out patient basis , without blood loss, or blood transfusion, without anaesthesia. It has no risk of impotance or  possibility of AIDS infection.

The patient lies in bed and is controlled with ultrasonography. A catheter is inserted in the prostate for the application of heat in the region of the prostate and also to cool the urethra. Another sound is applied in the rectum to adjust and measure the temperature automatically in the surroundings of the prostate  to protect the patient from any heat or thermal injury. the whole procedure is monitored by computer on the spot.
The treatment requires an hour.

Healing:

The prostate volume shrinks to a volume that alleviates the symptoms within a few weeks and the patient enjoys  a long time of relief.
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The lobes of the healthy Prostatic urethra, with further a = Prostate b = urethra c = bladder	The lobes of the enlarged Constrict the prostate urethra a = Prostate b = urethra c = bladder

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ):

1. Should thermotherapy be done in a hospital?
   
   No, it is done on out patients basis.
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2. Does thermotherapy treat the prostate permanently?
   
   No, its effect is confined to reduce the irritating symptoms (burning during micturition, drang incontinence, nykturia). The effect lasts for 2 years.
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3. Is it possible to treat the obstructing prostate with thermotherapy?
   
   No.
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4. Is it painful?
   
   No, but sometimes you should have some sedatives given intravenously.
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5. Should I have anesthesia?
   
   No.
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6. What are the complications of the procedure?
   
   None. In very rare cases slight swelling in the urethra that may lead to limited temporary incontinence for 1-2 days.

The treatment is an outpatient basis.

The energy is evenly distributed.