Press Release
14.05.2008
New LIFE™ laser therapy is particularly suitable for high-risk patients
The innovative procedure has particular benefits for patients at increased risk of bleeding and with cardiovascular weaknesses – A 150 watt BPH laser available for the first time to patients in over 25 hospitals and medical practices all over Germany
Jena/Cologne, May 14, 2008 – www.biolitec.de – Now, for the first time, German urologists can treat the common male problem of prostate enlargement with a procedure using a 150 watt laser. The new LIFE™ laser therapy is already available at more than 25 clinics and medical practices in all over Germany. The innovative LIFE™ therapy device and the Evolve™ laser it uses are developed by the Jena-based medical technology company, biolitec AG. The technical properties of the laser make it particularly suited to the treatment of high-risk BPH patients.
"High-risk patients include, in particular, individuals on blood-thinning medication," explains Dr. Stephan Neubauer, urologist at the West German Prostate Center in Cologne. "The new high-performance laser allows us to vaporize the tissue and to stave off bleeding during treatment. In contrast to conventional treatment, where prostate tissue was removed, secondary bleeding is virtually eliminated with this procedure." Patients also benefit from short recovery times. A urethral catheter is normally required for just one night, which means that hospital stays are reduced from a week to two days. The treatment can even be provided on an outpatient basis.
Patients with a very large prostate represent another high-risk group. In the past, these would have been treated with a conventional resection of the prostate (TURP). With LIFE™ therapy, the high-powered laser can vaporize the obstructing tissue faster, with greater accuracy and therefore more effectively, while the sensitive surrounding tissue remains untouched. Patients are thus spared excessively long treatment times.
Surgical removal of prostate tissue is also associated with higher risks for patients with cardiovascular diseases. In contrast, treatment times are much shorter with LIFE™ laser surgery (lasting, on average, just 40 minutes) and enable the use of a gentle anesthetic, which places less stress on the patient's cardiovascular system than a general anesthetic or spinal block. In addition, side effects such as impotence and incontinence can be virtually ruled out with LIFE™ laser therapy.
Since the start of this year, in-patient treatment with LIFE™ therapy laser vaporization in public hospitals has been reimbursed by statutory health insurance providers.
Some background information on benign prostate enlargement/BPH:
A constant need to empty the bladder, a weakened urinary flow and unpleasant leaks – symptoms that become unbearable for many men and are usually due to a benign enlargement of the prostate. It affects one in two men over the age of 50 and is the most common illness among the male population. With benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH), the glandular tissue of the prostate begins to extend into the urethra area. The resulting narrowing of the urethra weakens the urinary flow and residual urine remains in the bladder. This may, in turn, result in painful infections and the formation of bladder stones.
The West German Prostate Center in Cologne
The West German Prostate Center in Cologne offers end-to-end services for diseases of the prostate, from diagnosis, to treatment and after-care. With many experienced specialists under one roof, patients are ensured the highest level of care. For more information, visit www.westdeutschesprostatazentrum.de.
Press Contact:>Andrea Hertlein Tel.:>0221 / 924 24 455, Fax:>0221 / 924 24 460, E-mail:>a.hertlein@wpz-koeln.de
biolitec AG
biolitec is the only supplier for photodynamic therapy worldwide that offers all relevant core competencies – photosensitizers, lasers, optical fibers and a drug with Temoporfin® as the active ingredient that is licensed for use in Europe. Besides minimal invasive laser treatments and the oncology business, biolitec has successfully developed competencies in the field of aesthetics. biolitec is listed in the Prime Standard under ISIN DE0005213409. For more information: www. biolitec.de.
Press Contact:>Jörn Gleisner, Tel.:>069 / 959083-20, Fax :>069 / 959083-99, E-mail: joern.gleisner@biolitec.com
