Anyone had Indigo Laser procedure for bph? Need info

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Terrmac - 17 Aug 2004 03:35 GMT

Hi All,
Uro has recommended Indgo Laser treatment for BPH and related urine
retention. Anyone had expierence with this procedure.

Thanks Terrmac

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Jim W. - 17 Aug 2004 03:43 GMT

I had the procedure 3 1/2 yrs. ago. Had a difficult recovery in that after
4 days of catheter I was unable to urinate and needed 3 more days before
swelling
went down sufficiently. I had some improvement in the first 6 months but
then I regressed to the point I had to go back on Flomax. I'd say the
Indigo was better than nothing but the PVP I had last month would have been
a better solution had it been available at the time. To be fair , my
situation involved enlarged median lobe growing into the bladder and Indigo
is not the preferred method to deal with that according to what I have heard
around here and confirmed by Dr. Te who did the PVP. Jim W.

> Hi All,
> Uro has recommended Indgo Laser treatment for BPH and related urine
> retention. Anyone had expierence with this procedure.
>
> Thanks Terrmac

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Bill Hale - 17 Aug 2004 20:52 GMT

com...

> > Hi All,
> > Uro has recommended Indgo Laser treatment for BPH and related urine
> > retention. Anyone had expierence with this procedure.
> >
> > Thanks Terrmac

Ok, maybe I don't know what I'm talking about. Maybe you can research
it and let us know.

My understanding is that the Indigo laser is not focused. Like one
doc said,
if you get it aimed in the wrong direction, you can take out the
walls!

The PVP laser is side firing with a focal length of a couple MM. So
it's
like burning a leaf with a magnifying glass-- if it isn't focused
there is
no burning.

I've heard that the Indigo needs to be very carefully used. It takes
out
anything in its direction. Maybe you can verify this.

I had an easy PVP. I was only 40 grams. No pain; catheter for a day;
biggest
problem was coming around from the spinal anethesia. Symptoms
completely fixed.

Bill Hale

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David DeBar - 26 Aug 2004 00:19 GMT

My understanding is that both the red and green laser light is very
"focused". The difference is in the wavelength or "color" of the light.
The PVP use a light that is absorbed by blood in tissue causing it to become
very hot and go up in smoke and ash. Tissue that is not red is not so
drastically burned away.

BTW I had PVP a year ago and EVERYTHING down there works fine.
Glad I had it done.

Dave

> com...
> > > Hi All,
[quoted text clipped - 27 lines]
>
> Bill Hale

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Liz - 30 Aug 2004 20:58 GMT

I am considering Indigo Laser and wonder what
to expect for how long I will need a catheter?

> My understanding is that both the red and green laser light is very
> "focused". The difference is in the wavelength or "color" of the light.
[quoted text clipped - 40 lines]
> >
> > Bill Hale

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Jim W. - 30 Aug 2004 22:43 GMT

My doctor said I wasn't the usual case but I had it in for 4 days and when
it was removed I couldn't urinate so I had to have it put back in for 3 more
days. As I recall
they expect 3-4 days for most men. FWIW, Indigo pretty much failed for me
with minor improvement that didn't last more than a year wherein I had to go
back
on Flomax. 3 years later I had PVP which has given me a great stream but
still waiting (8 weeks) for symptom improvement. Jim W.

> I am considering Indigo Laser and wonder what
> to expect for how long I will need a catheter?
[quoted text clipped - 45 lines]
> > >
> > > Bill Hale

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MB - 31 Aug 2004 03:54 GMT

Jim :

Can you explain what you mean by great stream but still awaiting symptom
improvement.

My problem tends to be weak stream with difficulty urinating
(well-controlled so far by flomax). I don't really have problems with
urgency.

So, wouldn't PVP solve that problem (I am considering PVP down the road when
flomax stops working).

Mel

> My doctor said I wasn't the usual case but I had it in for 4 days and when
> it was removed I couldn't urinate so I had to have it put back in for 3 more
[quoted text clipped - 54 lines]
> > > >
> > > > Bill Hale

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Jim W. - 31 Aug 2004 05:01 GMT

My problem has always been a weak stream and a frequent need to urinate. I
get very uncomfortable when my bladder contains about 5oz (retention is not
a problem). Flomax gave me that 5oz ( before it was 3-4 oz) and a bit
better stream. Almost everyone who has reported here has had a greatly
increased flow after their PVP procedure so I suppose that it would indeed
help you. As for me I need my bladder to recover form 20+ years of what
restricted flow did to it.
[my flow rate after PVP went from approx 7ml/sec to 20 ml/sec average -
higher at peak]
Jim

> Jim :
>
[quoted text clipped - 74 lines]
> > > > >
> > > > > Bill Hale

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