UroLift System launches at the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Trust

The Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Trust is, for the first time, routinely offering a new day case surgical treatment in its network of community hospitals - the first Trust in the country to do so.

The treatment, which requires no cutting, heating or removal of tissue, is a new option for men in the county who need surgery for a urological condition.

The UroLift System procedure treats symptoms due to urinary outflow obstruction secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in men.

The UroLift implants act like window curtain tie-backs to hold the lobes of an enlarged prostate open. Patients typically recover from the treatment quickly, and return to their normal routines with minimal downtime.

The first list performed by the Trust was in July and six patients were treated, all under local anaesthetic. The list was performed at Tiverton District Hospital, one of the local community hospitals run by the Trust. A second treatment list was carried out at the Day Unit in the same hospital in August.

Malcolm Crundwell, the lead surgeon, said: “Six patients were treated and all of the patients went home on the same day. They were each in hospital for around four hours in total. I am delighted to say that the five patients on that list who didn’t have a catheter beforehand weren’t catheterised afterwards as they would have been done with the procedure that the UroLift System replaces.

“A man with a manual job would need to take a month off work following a TURP. But UroLift System patients get back to normal within days. All of the six patients who had a UroLift System treatment in July – who are aged in their 50s to 70s - would have otherwise had a TURP.

“I believe the UroLift System is truly excellent news for men in Devon. It is really good for patients who haven't had to spend more than half a day in hospital. Unlike TURP, there’s no removal of tissue, so less pain and significantly less recovery time, no overnight stay, no general anaesthetic - so there’s less risk - typically no catheter, so less discomfort. The UroLift System is good for the NHS because we tie up fewer NHS resources. And we do these treatments using day case facilities, freeing up operating theatres and ward beds for more complex cases.”