Baptist Hospital East : Services

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A new outpatient procedure is helping many men who suffer urinary tract infections and have trouble urinating due to an enlarged prostate.

Transurethral Microwave Thermotherapy (TUMT) can help men who have benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), an increased number of tissue cells which causes the prostate to enlarge, often leading to urinary incontinence or urinary tract infections.

A treatment catheter with a tiny antenna, called the Prostatron®, is inserted into the urethra and is positioned to the center of the prostate. The Prostatron then heats the prostate tissue to above 45 degrees centigrade, enough to destroy benign prostate cells. Cool water is also circulated throughout the catheter, protecting the urethra. A small probe is inserted in the rectum to measure rectal temperature during the procedure to assure that surrounding tissue is not damaged.

The procedure, which takes only 30 minutes and requires a 30 to 45 minute wait for patients after it is completed, can shrink the prostate using microwave energy. This restores urine flow for patients.

With TUMT, patients are minimally sedated and are given antiobiotics prior to the procedure to prevent urinary tract infections.

TUMT procedures are offered one day a month at Baptist Hospital East. A physician order is required for this procedure.

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