“The conditions of the prostate are the most commonly reported issues at our Urology consultation rooms”

The statistics are clear. The most predominant pathology reported at the Urology consultation rooms of the Quirónsalud Marbella Hospital is associated with conditions affecting the prostate gland. The Head of this Unit explains that the primary reason for men to visit their doctors is related to conditions affecting the prostate. "Patients usually call for an appointment with their doctor for one of the conditions related to the prostate, such as prostate benign hyperplasia (benign growth), prostate cancer (malign growth) or prostatitis, which is a very common type of infection. This is the most commonly discussed condition within our speciality", explains Navarro Vílchez, the Head of the Unit.

The prostate is a nut-size gland situated just below the bladder, which is involved in the production of semen, together with the testicles and the seminal vesicles. It is run through by the urethra, which connects the bladder to the outside through the penis and allows urine evacuation. The change in size of the prostate (an increase) is a symptom of a prostate condition and can derive in urine disorders that can be highly incapacitating for men. Our expert indicates that "the prostate gland starts to grow from the age of 40 onwards, causing discomfort at times. This condition can cause more frequent urination, getting up more times during the night in order to urinate or feeling an urgent need to urinate, a weaker urine stream, urinary retention or even incontinence, although the latest is not common. The prostate can be treated to solve a merely functional problem or to prevent an oncological diagnosis".

In this respect, Doctor Navarro highlights the healthcare model implemented at the Urology Unit, which promotes the cooperation of the various departments (Oncology, Psychology, Reconstructive Surgery…) with the purpose to offer the patient the best possible diagnosis and, consequently, the most adequate therapy in each case.

This commitment to excellence has driven the Quirónsalud Marbella Hospital to adopt the latest technological equipment, i.e. Holmium Laser, to treat benign prostate hyperplasia. In the words of the specialist, the addition of this new technology brings "a major advantage to patients, as it guarantees a minimally-invasive intervention, even in cases where the enlargement of the prostate is significant. This technology is highly versatile for urology procedures compared to conventional techniques". The procedure is known as Prostate Enucleation and uses a Holmium Laser to access the spheric mass growing inside the prostate, section the contents with the laser and extract it to completely remove this tissue. The performance of this technique requires high specialisation which the team of the Urology Unit of the Quirónsalud Marbella Hospital has mastered at nationally and internationally-renowned hospitals.