0116 258 8709
uhl-tr.lhcharitymailbox@nhs.net
Patients at Leicester’s Hospitals who need laser surgery for enlarged prostates will now benefit from a state-of-the-art surgical device called a morcellator
Because of supporters like you, the morcellator has transformed surgical techniques used in prostate surgery, allowing for the procedure to be carried out in a far more efficient way, helping to significantly improve patient outcomes.
Now, the full surgical procedure can be completed quicker, meaning patients spend less time in the hospital and can be discharged a lot sooner to recover in the comfort of their own homes. This also means that more patients can be treated on any given day, helping to cut waiting times. Although an enlarged prostate is not life threatening, the condition can be very debilitating for many, with symptoms that include extreme discomfort and the inability to pass urine normally. Around 5% of men between the ages of 51 and 60 experience symptoms due to an enlarged prostate. That number jumps to 30% among men aged 60 to 69 and around 50% of men over 70.
David, a retired Sales Engineer from Lincolnshire, has suffered with the symptoms of an enlarged prostate since 2014, and has required the fitting of numerous catheters and the use of medication to help with easing the troubling condition over the years.
“Having a catheter strapped to the inside of my leg really reduced my mobility and general comfort, effecting so many aspects of my life,” David said.
As the condition progressively worsened, David was pleased to have had surgery in January this year at the Leicester General Hospital. Following his surgery, David expressed his joy by using the morcellator, equipping an already talented team with a tool that makes such a huge difference to how they can help more patients.
saying, “I am absolutely delighted that I finally feel comfortable going to the toilet and no longer need a catheter. Being able to simply bend down to tie my shoelaces with no discomfort is just wonderful. Thank you so much to the charity’s supporters.” Now, recovering at home with the support of his wife Mary, David looks forward to getting back to living a normal life.
For staff working in the Urology Department at the Leicester General Hospital, the impact from using the morcellator has already been profound. More colleagues will soon be trained in
Masood Khan, Consultant Urological Surgeon explained, “Thanks to the new morcellator, the time patients spend in surgery has nearly halved, meaning patients no longer need to be anaesthetised for as long. As the complexities involved with the surgery are less, any possible associated risk has been significantly reduced.”
It is only because of the generosity of people like you, staff now have a surgical tool on hand to help more patients like David return to living a life free of discomfort much faster.