What is Rezum? How is Rezum Treatment Applied?

Benign prostate enlargement, which usually develops due to aging, is one of the most distressing conditions for men. Although many methods have been developed to be used in the treatment of prostate enlargement, studies in this area continue and new technologies are being developed. Rezum treatment, which gives very effective results in prostate enlargement, is one of these new technologies.

It revealed a decrease of approximately 28 percent in prostate volume after Rezum treatment.

Rezum, a technique used in the treatment of prostate enlargement, is a method that has been applied since 2015 and utilizes natural water vapor energy. In this method, special water vapor produced with radiofrequency energy is used to destroy the prostate tissue that grows and compresses the urinary canal. After the application, the shrinkage of the prostate tissue takes between 3 and 12 weeks on average. The Rezum method gives extremely effective results in age-related prostate enlargement.

Although rezum treatment is an effective method, necessary conditions must be met before the application.

We can list these conditions as follows:

• Patients whose benign prostate enlargement does not improve as a result of drug therapy,
• Patients with prostate weight more than 30 grams, less than 80-100 grams, with middle and lateral lobes,
• Patients who are not suitable for general and spinal anesthesia due to heart diseases or lung problems,
• Patients who do not want to experience sexual complaints such as retrograde ejaculation due to drug treatment or prostate surgery,
• Patients who have difficulty urinating.

All patients with the above conditions are eligible for Rezum therapy. In addition to all these, Rezum treatment is not recommended in patients with urinary tract infections unless the infection is eliminated by using antibiotics. Likewise, Rezum treatment is not recommended for patients who have a penile prosthesis inserted as part of erectile dysfunction treatment.

Rezum treatment is performed by entering the urinary canal with a special camera system. No anesthesia is required during the procedure. The steps followed during the operation are as follows:

• After entering from the tip of the penis and the urinary canal with endoscopic methods, the enlarged prostate tissue is closely examined and necessary measurements are made,
• It is planned in which regions the operation will be performed,
• Small needles are inserted into the prostate tissue,
• The water vapor prepared by the radiofrequency energy source is transferred into the prostate tissue through the needles inserted into the prostate tissue,
• With this water vapor, a destructive effect is performed on the prostate tissue and destruction is created to remove the enlarged tissue.

The application is carried out with an apparatus system that is used specifically for each patient and directed by the surgeon. After the needles are inserted into the prostate tissue through this apparatus system, it takes approximately 9 seconds for the energetic steam to scatter into the prostate tissue. It is possible for the needles to penetrate up to 10 mm into the prostate tissue. It takes between 10 and 15 minutes to complete the process. Some patients may need temporary catheterization. No hospitalization is required and patients can be discharged on the same day.

After steam injection, shrinkage occurs in the enlarged prostate tissue. Thus, with the shrinking prostate tissue, the urine flow becomes much stronger and easier. Existing research has revealed a reduction of approximately 28 percent in prostate volume after Rezum treatment.

Rezum therapy, as a fairly new technique used in the treatment of prostate enlargement, brings with it many advantages.

Some of the advantages that patients can gain with Rezum treatment are as follows:

• It is an extremely short procedure and it is possible for patients to be discharged on the same day,
• Patients can return to their normal lives in a short time,
• Compared to similar prostate treatments, much less side effects are experienced,
• Local anesthesia can be applied under the prostatic block,
• It is possible to apply in patients with serious diseases,
• There are no problems that occur in other prostate surgeries such as ejaculation, in some cases, a decrease in semen volume between 1.5 and 2.9 percent may occur,
• There is no bleeding during the surgical procedure,
• There is no absolute need for bladder washing using a catheter after treatment,
• It can be applied without any problem in patients with cardiac and brain pacemaker.

Especially younger patients with prostate enlargement benefit greatly from Rezum treatment. Because other methods used in prostate enlargement may cause some sexual dysfunctions such as ejaculation or erectile dysfunction in this young patient group. However, the probability of such problems occurring in Rezum treatment is extremely low.