Rezūm Water Vapor Therapy
27 November 2023 2024-01-03 20:22Rezūm Water Vapor Therapy
Rezum Water Vapor Therapy
Our Approach to Rezum™ Water Vapor Therapy
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), also known as an enlarged prostate, is a common condition and affects millions of aging men. While BPH is not cancerous, it can negatively affect your quality of life and may cause significant health problems.
Most men prefer a BPH treatment option that avoids lifelong daily medications, their side effects, or invasive surgery. RezumTM Water Vapor Therapy offers a minimally invasive non-surgical treatment that is performed out of hospital without general anesthesia. In recent clinical trials, this treatment provides long-lasting relief from BPH symptoms. Most patients experience a quick recovery time and may see improvement of BPH symptoms in as early as two weeks. The Canadian, American, and European Urological Associations recommend RezumTM as a treatment option for men with BPH.
What We Offer You With Water Vapor Therapy
Awarded Centre of Excellence for Rezūm Water Vapor Therapy
Personalized continuum of care
New, modern facility
What Is Rezum Water Vapor Therapy?
About Water Vapor Therapy
Urinary problems from BPH occur because the enlarged prostate compresses or blocks the urethra (the tube that carries urine from the bladder). When treatment effectively relieves this obstruction, the urethra opens and urine can flow freely again.
REZUMTM therapy is powered by convective water vapor energy which delivers targeted, controlled doses of stored thermal energy to ablate excess prostate tissue. Each 9-second treatment uses 0.42ml of heated sterile water vapor which uniformly disperses through the tissue. Condensation releases stored thermal energy which causes immediate cell death without damaging surrounding areas while preserving erectile, ejaculatory, and urinary functions.
Over 3 months, your body’s natural healing response reabsorbs the ablated tissue, reducing the prostate volume and opening the urethra to relieve obstruction. Most people need only one water vapor treatment for full results. The procedure is performed in an outpatient setting, with light sedation provided by your anesthetist, and completed in under ten minutes.
Conditions Treated with Water Vapor Therapy
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is noncancerous enlargement of the prostate gland. The prostate is a walnut-sized gland below the bladder that produces part of the fluid that makes up semen (fluid that protects sperm).
Because the prostate surrounds the urethra, it can press on or obstruct the urethra as it enlarges. An enlarged prostate can block or narrow the urethra and in some men may cause:
- Incomplete emptying or the feeling your bladder is still full even after passing urine.
- Frequent urination (every 1-2 hours) or the urgent need to pass urine as if you can’t wait.
- Multiple (usually more than 2) trips to the bathroom at night to pass urine.
- Straining to urinate or the need to stop and start several times
- Weak stream or irregular flow
- Urinary incontinence or dribbling before/after urination
Importantly, there are other diseases that may cause some or all of the above symptoms and a more extensive diagnostic workup and treatment considerations may be recommended by your Urologist.
Risks of Water Vapor Therapy
Water vapor therapy is a safe and effective treatment for BPH symptoms, but like any treatment side effects are possible.
Although rare and mostly temporary, these may include:
- Burning with urination (17%)
- Blood in the urine (12%)
- Urinary frequency and urgency (6%)
- Urinary retention (4%)
- Urinary tract infection (4%)
- Decreased ejaculatory volume (1-2%)
What to Expect with Water Vapor Therapy
Before the Procedure:
- An ultrasound, uroflowmetry, cystoscopy, and blood/urine tests may be ordered to determine if you are a good candidate for water vapor therapy.
- If you take blood thinners, you may need to stop taking them up to a week before your procedure. Ask your doctor before stopping any of your medications.
- Antibiotics will be prescribed to be taken before, during, and after the treatment.
- Pain relief options will be reviewed.
- Someone will have to drive you home after the procedure.
During the Procedure:
- Treatment is usually completed in less than ten minutes. You should set aside up to 1-2 hours for your total appointment time.
- Only clear fluids after midnight the day prior to your procedure.
- Your anesthetist will administer light sedation to ensure your comfort.
After the Procedure:
- Continue taking your antibiotics as prescribed.
- You will need to use a catheter on average 7 days or more as you heal. A nurse will be arranged for catheter care and removal.
- Usually, you can resume normal activities within a few days.
- If you have pain, take your pain medicine as prescribed by your doctor.
- You may notice improvement in your BPH symptoms within two weeks, but full results usually take three to six months.
Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
What is the cause of BPH?
As many men get older, their prostate gland enlarges, which may squeeze the urethra and obstruct the flow of urine. Other risk factors for BPH include family history, obesity, heart disease and diabetes.1
How is BPH treated?
A wide variety of treatment options are available for BPH, including watchful waiting, behavioral modification, medication, minimally invasive surgical therapies and surgery. Medication is the most common first-line treatment for mild to moderate symptoms of enlarged prostate. Minimally invasive or surgical treatment might be recommended if symptoms are moderate to severe, medication doesn’t relieve the symptoms, or the patient has other health issues.
What is Rezūm Water Vapor Therapy?
Rezūm Therapy is an in-office treatment for men looking to treat BPH, not just the symptoms. It uses natural water vapor to reduce the size of the prostate and provide lasting symptom relief from BPH without invasive surgery or the potential side effects of prescription drugs.2 Clinical studies support that Rezūm Therapy relieves BPH symptoms safely and effectively, eliminating the need for BPH medications while also preserving sexual function.3 It helps most men see symptom improvement within a few weeks and return to regular activities within a few days after treatment.3
Who may benefit from Rezūm?
Clinical studies show that Rezūm Therapy provides significant lasting, improvement in symptoms and quality of life.2 It may be an option for those who have given up on watchful waiting and lifestyle changes, men who are dissatisfied with, have stopped or don’t want to start taking BPH medications, and men not interested in other minimally invasive or surgical BPH procedures. Rezūm Therapy removes excess prostate tissue with water vapor, thereby treating the disease while also relieving symptoms and preserving sexual function.3
Why is Rezūm an important option?
For years, the primary options for treating BPH were through medications or invasive surgery. Rezūm Therapy is a natural, in-office therapy option for men who do not want to take medication or are dissatisfied with medication symptom relief and want to avoid invasive surgery or implants to treat their BPH. Research indicates that avoiding incontinence and preserving sexual function is a priority for men when it comes to BPH treatments.4 Clinical studies show Rezūm Therapy treats the cause of BPH symptoms while preserving sexual function and continence.2
How is the Rezūm performed? Is the patient awake?
The procedure takes place during one short office visit and does not require general anesthesia.3 During each 9-second treatment, natural water vapor is released throughout the targeted prostate tissue. When the steam contacts the tissue and turns back into water, all the stored energy is released, killing the excess prostate cells. Over time, the body’s natural healing response absorbs the dead cells and shrinks the prostate. With the extra tissue removed, the urethra opens, reducing BPH symptoms. Depending on the size of the prostate, the number of water vapor treatments vary.
Where is Rezūm performed?
Rezūm Therapy is performed in an outpatient surgical centre.
Is the procedure painful?
Rezūm Therapy can be performed under light IV sedation and does not require general anesthesia.3
Is Rezūm covered by insurance?
Rezūm Therapy is not a OHIP covered procedure however may be reimbursed by private insurance plans. Patients should verify their benefits with their individual insurance company.
How quickly do patients experience symptom relief?
Clinical studies show that most men experience symptom relief as soon as two weeks after treatment with Rezūm Therapy, and maximum benefit may occur within three months.1 As with any procedure, patient responses can vary.
How soon can patients return to regular activities?
Clinical studies show that following treatment with Rezūm Therapy, most men return to regular activities within a few days.3 The patient’s physician will make personal recommendations on resuming activity.
How long do improvements last?
Current clinical studies demonstrate that, following treatment with Rezūm Therapy, symptom improvement is sustained through five years, and studies are ongoing to determine longer-term patient outcomes.2
Can Rezūm cause erectile dysfunction, or ED?
Clinical studies have demonstrated that Rezūm Therapy preserves erectile and urinary functions. There were no reports of erectile dysfunction (ED) as a result of treatment with Rezūm Therapy.3 However, there is a possibility that an underlying condition may surface following treatment. Each patient should speak with a physician about their individual health situation.
Can Rezūm cause urinary incontinence?
In Rezūm Therapy’s clinical studies, there were no reports of post-procedure urinary incontinence as a result of treatment with Rezūm Therapy.3
What are the risks of Rezūm Water Vapor Therapy?
All treatments have inherent and associated risks. The Rezūm System is intended to relieve symptoms and obstructions, and reduce prostate tissue associated with BPH. Potential risks include but are not limited to painful urination (dysuria), blood in the urine (hematuria), blood in the semen (hematospermia), decrease in ejaculatory volume, suspected urinary tract infection (UTI), and urinary frequency, retention or urgency. Patients should talk with their doctor about benefits and risks before moving forward with any treatment option.
Has Rezūm been clinically tested?
Rezūm Therapy has undergone extensive clinical trials to evaluate the safety and efficacy of the treatment.2 It is now included in the American Urological Association’s BPH treatment guidelines and has five-year follow-up data showing its ability to treat prostates with hyperplasia of the central zone, lateral lobe and/or median lobe.3 Over the five years, the trial showed a surgical retreatment rate of only 4.4% and no new adverse events noted between years 1 to 5.2
How long has Rezūm been available?
Rezūm Therapy was cleared by the FDA in 2015 and is currently being used in many leading urology practices. As of 2022, more than 70,000 patients in the United States have been successfully treated with Rezūm Therapy.5
Can patients be treated with Rezūm while on their current BPH medication?
During the Rezūm Therapy pivotal study, all patients discontinued their BPH medication to ensure the efficacy seen was from Rezūm Therapy alone. As such, there has been no randomized clinical data collected on using Rezūm Therapy at the same time as BPH medications.2
How is Rezūm different than laser therapy?
Laser therapy is an important option for patients who may not be appropriate candidates for Rezūm Therapy. Laser therapy may involve a short hospital stay and has been associated with shorter catheterization time, less bleeding and a faster recovery than traditional surgery.7-11 The individual’s medical history, health condition and other factors will influence treatment decisions.
REFERENCES：
- Roger K and Gilling P. Fast Facts: Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia, 7th edition. Health Press. 2011.
- McVary KT, Rogers T, Roehrborn CG. Rezūm water vapor thermal therapy for lower urinary tract symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia: 4-year results from randomized controlled study. Urology. 2019 Apr;126:171-9.
- McVary KT, Gange SN, Gittelman MC et al. Minimally invasive prostate convective water vapor energy (WAVE) ablation: A multicenter, randomized, controlled study for the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia. J Urol. 2016 May;195(5):1529-38.
- Boston Scientific Market Research: Understanding Today’s BPH Patient, August 30, 2018.
- Data on file at Boston Scientific.
- Roehrborn CG, Barking J, Gange SM, et al. Five-year results of the prospective randomized controlled prostatic urethral L.I.F.T. study. Can J Urol. 2017 Jun;24(3):8802-13.
- Bachmann A, Tubaro A, Barber N, et al. 180-W XPS GreenLight laser vaporization versus transurethral resection of the prostate for the treatment of benign prostatic obstruction: 6-month safety and efficacy results of the European multi-centre randomized trial – The GOLIATH Study. Eur Urol. 2014 May;65(5):931-42.
- Lukacs B, Loeffler J, Bruyère F, et al. Photoselective vaporization of the prostate with GreenLight 120-W laser compared with monopolar transurethral resection of the prostate: A multicenter randomized controlled trial. Eur Urol. 2012;61(6):1165-73.
- Capitán C, Blázquez C, Martin MD, et al. GreenLight HPS 120-W laser vaporization versus transurethral resection of the prostate for the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms due to benign prostatic hyperplasia: A randomized clinical trial with 2-year follow-up. Eur Urol. 2011 Oct;60(4):734-9.
- Al-Ansari A, Younes N, Sampige VP, et al. GreenLight HPS 120-W laser vaporization versus transurethral resection of the prostate for treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia: a randomized clinical trial with midterm follow-up. Eur Urol. 2010 Sep;58(3):349-55.
- Bouchier-Hayes DM, Van Appledorn S, Bugeja P, et al. A randomized trial of photoselective vaporization of the prostate using the 80-W potassium titanyl-phosphate laser vs transurethral prostatectomy, with a 1-year follow-up. BJU Int. 2010 Apr;105(7):964-9.
Our Centre
We offer a central location north of Toronto, conveniently located near Hwy 7 and Hwy 404 in Richmond Hill, Ontario.
Treatments and consultations are performed on an outpatient basis in a new private, modern clinic setting with easy-to-access free underground/ surface parking with direct access by VIVA public transit or car. We are adjacent to hotel facilities (Sheraton Parkway Toronto, Courtyard and Residence Inn by Marriott, and Hilton Garden Inn) for our out-of-town patients and their families.
Our center is also fully accessible to individuals with disabilities.
Address
- 550 Hwy 7 Unit 317, Richmond Hill, ON L4B 3Z4
Hours
- Mon-Fri 9:00AM - 5:00PM
English (Canada) 
简体中文 