Microwave Surgical Treatment of the Prostate: Clinical Application of Microwave Surgery as a Tool for Improved Prostatic Electroresection

Abstract

Microwave surgery as a tool for improved prostatic electroresection is introduced. Prior to electroresection the prostate was coagulated with 2,450 MHz of microwave which was emitted from the bipolar electrode of a specially designed probe. We conducted a comparative study of 35 patients with bladder neck obstruction. There was a microwave coagulation group treated with subsequent transurethral resection (TUR) and a conventional TUR group. Both groups were analyzed for the amount of blood loss, irrigant absorption and the frequency of complications. Both during and following surgery, the former group had a significant reduction in blood loss and had no complications. We conclude that the combination procedure of microwave coagulation and TUR can minimize the disadvantage of formal TUR and may be of value in the treatment of patients with both prostatic obstruction and of hemorrhagic diathesis as well as in high risk patients.

Combination Therapy with Microwave Coagulation and Intracavitary Irradiation for Bladder Cancer

“…Microwave coagu lation of prostate disease has also been reported [10,11]. The area of coagulation can be adjusted easily by varying the length of the microwave radiator, electric output, coagulation time, and thickness of a coaxial cable [11].…”

“…Experimental studies have shown that when tumor cells were subjected to the microwave treatment, the cell membrane, nucleus, and intracellular granules were maintained morphologically, even in cases where cell viability was completely lost [9]. Microwave coagu lation of prostate disease has also been reported [10,11]. The area of coagulation can be adjusted easily by varying the length of the microwave radiator, electric output, coagulation time, and thickness of a coaxial cable [11].…”

Microwave Coagulation Therapy for Urinary Bladder Tumors

“…We have already reported the use of hyperthermia with microwave irradiation for urinary bladder tumors [1] and microwave coagulation therapy for prostatic dis eases [2][3][4]. There have been no other reports on the application of microwaves in urological diseases, except for a clinical trial by Yerushalmi et al [5] in which benign prostatic hypertrophy was treated by heating the prostate to 42 °C with microwaves via the rectal wall.…”