The Aga Khan University Hospital has launched a new treatment procedure for prostate conditions in Kenya that could drastically change the lives of many men who suffer from the condition.

This comes even as prostate-related complications continue to rank among the top medical conditions that manifest among Kenyan men over 40 years, with many having to undergo a combination of long-term drug therapy and invasive surgery.

Today, however, patients living with the condition have another option for treatment that is far less invasive and guarantees better outcomes, milder side effects and an overall improvement in their quality of life.

Rezum Water Vapour Therapy recently introduced at the Aga Khan University Hospital is a minimally invasive procedure that uses condensed steam to shrink benign enlarged prostate tissue, negating the need for surgery. 

The deployment of the procedure is still in the nascent stages on the continent, but successful adoption in other countries has doctors and urology specialists in the country upbeat over the prospect for Kenyan patients.

“We see a lot of men over the age of 40 present with lower urinary tract symptoms induced by an enlarged prostate,” explained Dr. Amadadin Alhlib a urology specialist at Aga Khan University Hospital.

“Enlargement of the prostate could induce blocking of the urinary system or the bladder outlet which leads to symptoms such as frequent urination, waking up at night severally, a strong urge to urinate, weak urine flow and inability to empty the bladder,” he explains.

Clinically referred to as Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), the condition can in some cases lead to infection, bladder stones and reduced kidney function. 

Current medical interventions such as medication and surgery have been reported to have adverse side effects on some patients including erectile dysfunction, bleeding and ejaculation complications.

Prostate-related complications rank among the top medical conditions affecting men over the age of 40. Prostate cancer is among the most referenced complications and the most prevalent cancer among men in Kenya.

According to the Kenya Demographic Health Survey, KDHS, more than 14,400 men between the ages of 15-54 reported having received a diagnosis in 2022 and just 14 percent stated that they were receiving treatment.

But while benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is non-cancerous, the condition affects a significant proportion of middle-aged and older men. This is compounded by lack of awareness and low screening among individuals pre-disposed to the condition.

“The procedure can be done on any patient with an enlarged prostate between 30 grams to 120 grams and is done under general anaesthesia or mild sedation,” explains Dr. Amadadin.

“It is ideal for young patients because the treatment preserves sexual function and is also recommended for elderly patients that might have complications with surgery under general anaesthesia,” he said.

The procedure is conducted out-patient and can be completed within 10-15 minutes with no incisions required. Clinical tests have had patients reporting up to 50 percent improvement in their symptoms within a few weeks of receiving Rezum Water Vapour Therapy with nine out of ten avoiding additional surgery.

This is a stark comparison to conventional treatment procedures such as Transurethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP) that has been the go-to remedy for BPH. 

However, many patients who receive TURP report longer recovery times and higher risks of side effects as it involves physically removing prostate tissue. 

Prostatectomy, a surgical procedure to partially or fully remove the prostate gland, is invasive and associated with significant side effects including incontinence and erectile dysfunction. 

However, not all prostate-related complications can be treated with Rezum Water Vapour Therapy and some cases will still require surgery.

“Rezum is only used for benign enlargement of the prostate and cannot be used for prostate cancer, patients with urinary symptoms not caused by an enlarged prostate or those with an infection,” explains Dr. Amadadin.

This article was first published by Citizen digital.