NONSURGICAL TREATMENTS FOR BPH: STENTS
A stent is a spring-like device composed of self-anchoring metal mesh tubes that is placed into the prostatic urethra, where it is left on a temporary or semipermanent basis. It is used to stretch the channel within the prostatic urethra so that the patient can have an easier time in urinating. For a small number of patients with chronic urinary retention problems who are not candidates for surgery due to heart or lung disease or other conditions, stents may be a helpful option. They are often recommended as a short-term solution for elderly men who are poor candidates for surgery due to ill health. Stents are used by urologists in England and Scandinavia. They can be inserted quickly and easily on an outpatient or overnight basis, with no blood loss.
The outcome of this procedure has been fair, with slightly more than half having satisfactory results. Unfortunately, prostate tissue may grow through the mesh and block the urethra again, making a surgical procedure necessary. Instead of the spring-like device, some urologists have tried using stainless steel stents, but the results have been similar.
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