[Interventional therapy of BPH syndrome]

The invasive treatment modalities available for BPH can be divided into interstitial therapy without removal of tissue (e.g. stents), and those involving delayed tissue ablation (thermal/coagulation procedures, e.g. laser ablation, microwave thermo-ablation, high-intensity ultrasound). The latter procedures (coagulation) more often permit a non-bloody intervention, the sphincter usually remains uninjured, and retrograde ejaculation is less frequent. A third group of options is interventional treatment with immediate ablation of tissue (vaporization, resection), which is more invasive and associated with a higher risk of complications than the two first-mentioned groups. An advantage of these options is the avoidance of a longer-term catheterization with its associated risks. Help is provided for deciding which procedure should be used in which patient.