Alternative treatment of prostatic urethral obstruction secondary to benign prostatic hypertrophy. Non-surgical balloon catheter prostatic dilatation.

Benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) produces symptoms that currently can only be treated surgically either by open or endoscopic prostatectomy. We have undertaken animal (1) and human studies to determine if invasive radiologic techniques utilizing balloon catheters could be applied to the treatment of this common ailment. We report a series of twelve patients treated by retrograde transurethral balloon catheter prostatic dilatation. The procedure is performed using topical anesthesia with a specially designed balloon catheter (Medi-Tech, Inc.). The procedure is done on an outpatient basis and is completed within approximately 15 minutes. Relatively long-term results have resulted in persistent relief of symptoms. No complications have been encountered. We anticipate that balloon dilatation of the prostatic urethra will have a major impact on the treatment of BPH based on the promising preliminary results. Transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) is associated with moderate morbidity and significant cost which can be reduced by the proposed procedure.