• Urology expert Nikesh Thiruchelvam with Urolift prostate treatment in Cambridge UK
  • Urolift urology treatment of prostate in Cambridge UK
  • Urolift prostate treatment in Cambridge UK
Mr N Thiruchelvam, from Addenbrookes Hospital and Cambridge Urology Clinic is now able to offer patients Urolift, a new implant to treat male lower urinary tract symptoms due to benign prostatic enlargement. Upto 70% of men suffer from symptoms of urinary frequency and urgency, straining to pee and urinary hesitancy. Until recently, men received medication and if these drugs failed or were insufficient to improve symptoms, men were offered surgery. Men also underwent surgery if they didn’t like the side effects of medication, namely a dry orgasm (due to retrograde ejaculation), lowered libido or impotence, Current surgical techniques involve cutting away the prostate to open up the prostatic channel, in the form of a TURP. This remains the most effective treatment. However, all surgical techniques involve an anesthetic and a temporary catheter post surgery. Following surgery, men may experience burning and blood in the urine. Most men require 4-6 weeks off work, depending on occupation. There is also a very high chance of permanent dry orgasm and a small chance of permanent urinary incontinence and impotence.
Urolift is a new device invented in America. The technique, which can be performed under a local anaesthetic, involves placing permanent implants which pull open the prostatic urethra, thereby causing an immediate opening of the urethra. The procedure usually does not require post surgery catheterisation and is a truely day case operation. The average time to return to work or daily activities is 5 days. Also of note is that there have no been reported incidences of dry orgasms or erection problems. Heavy investment by the company to research the device has led to widespread publication in all the leading Urological Journals and subsequent FDA approval in 2013 and NICE approval in January 2014.  The published evidence showed that in men treated with Urolift, the flow rate improved by 50% (upto twice that of drugs), symptoms improved by 50% (up to 2-3 times that seen with drugs) and no sexual dysfunction. Currently follow-up data is published upto to two years. There was no incidence of sexual dysfunction in any of the studies. 80% of men in the control arm of studies elected to undergo Urolift.
The procedure is covered by leading health insurers and is also available as a self-pay package. Please contact the Cambridge Urology Clinic on 01223 266927 to learn more or click here.  Below are pictures taken from a patient who underwent the Urolift device by Mr Thiruchelvam.
Urology treatment of prostate in Cambridge UK

Before...

Before...

Before surgery, the view seen through the cystoscope (telescopic view through the waterpipe, with lobes of the prostate causing obstruction to the bladder)
Prostate treatment in Cambridge UK

After...

After...

Immediately after the Urolift implants are placed, the lobes of the prostate have been pulled apart

Useful Links

An interview with Mr Thiruchelvam talking about the Urolift device

An animation of the Urolift procedure

Further information is available below:

An article by the Cambridge News 2015 on a patient who underwent the Urolift procedure by Mr Thiruchelvam, can be found here (PDF). The successful outcome in this patient is also featured in an article here (PDF), seen in Choice Magazine, a leading British independent magazine.

Another animation video on Urolift can be seen here.

A 2017 article in the press on Urolift can be seen here.

An article by the Cambridge News 2014 on Urolift, as offered by Mr Thiruchelvam, can be found here (PDF).

A randomised control trial published in European Urology 2015 with Urolift can be found here (PDF).

A recent review study published in European Urology 2015 can be found here (PDF).

An article of patient experience after Urolift, published in the Canadian Journal of Urology 2015, can be found here (PDF).

An article in Urology News 2014 outlining the lack of sexual dysfunction wiht Urolift can be found here (PDF).

NICE interventional procedures guidance [IPG475] On Urolift January 2014

British Journal of Urology 2014 Multicentre prospective crossover study of the ‘prostatic urethral lift’ for the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia.

Canadian Journal of Urology 2014 Prospective multi-center study elucidating patient experience after prostatic urethral lift.

European Urology 2013 Minimally invasive prostatic urethral lift: surgical technique and multinational experience.

Journal of Uology 2013 The prostatic urethral lift for the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms associated with prostate enlargement due to benign prostatic hyperplasia: the L.I.F.T. Study.

Cambridge Urology Clinic