What is Rezum treatment?
Rezum water vapour therapy is a minimally invasive procedure that uses a few drops of water to treat the excess prostate tissue causing benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) symptoms. Unlike some other BPH treatment methods, Rezum protects all aspects of sexual function, with low risk of complications, including erectile dysfunction and retrograde (dry) ejaculation.
At Welbeck, this straightforward and effective treatment is performed as an outpatient procedure in our state-of-the-art Men’s Health centre, by our experienced consultant urologists. Our specialists provide outstanding care using this advanced technology, taking all necessary measures to ensure the best possible outcomes.
What does the Rezum procedure involve?
The procedure involves the delivery of water vapour into targeted prostate tissue to shrink the enlarged prostate tissue over time. This relieves obstruction, improving the strength of the flow of urine and urinary symptoms.
The procedure may be delivered with local anaesthesia, under sedation, or with a light general anaesthetic. Once the anaesthetic has taken effect, your consultant will inject water vapour into the targeted prostate tissue. Each injection takes only 9 seconds, with an average of 4 to 6 injections needed.
The procedure itself takes just a few minutes, but your appointment may take around 2 hours to complete. As there will be some initial swelling of the prostate, all patients will need a catheter (drainage tube from the bladder) inserted at the end of the procedure.
After the procedure, you’ll be taken to a private room to rest and relax for a few hours. We’ll arrange a follow-up appointment for you a few days later (3 to 7 days, depending on the prostate volume and number of treatment injections required) for the removal of the catheter.
Most patients will experience noticeable improvement in their symptoms in as little as 2 weeks.
What are the risks of Rezum?
Not all men presenting with symptoms relating to their prostate may be suitable for Rezum. Those with very severe symptoms or a very large prostate may not achieve the level of symptom improvement hoped for. Careful discussion with your urologist is needed to understand whether Rezum is an appropriate option.
Following the procedure, the rate of complications beyond infection is low, and in most cases, patients are discharged with a course of precautionary antibiotics.
The risk of negative impact on your sexual function is also low, with no risk to erectile function identified in clinical trials and a very low risk (3%) of permanent dry ejaculation.
How to prepare for Rezum treatment
There is very little preparation required to have Rezum treatment. If you take anticoagulants (blood thinners), you may need to stop them for a few days to a week before your procedure – your consultant will advise you. Your consultant may also prescribe antibiotics to help reduce the risk of infection.
Recovery and aftercare
Patients who have Rezum treatment can resume normal activities very quickly, even with a catheter in place. After removal of the catheter, some patients may have visible blood in their urine, burning on passing urine, and frequency and urgency of urination, which will settle slowly over time, but may limit confidence in the level of activity during this process.
After your procedure, you must take any oral antibiotics as prescribed by your consultant, and avoid activities that may irritate your prostate.
If you experience discomfort, it can help to:
take over-the-counter pain medication, such as paracetamol
take a warm bath or apply a warm compress
temporarily avoid caffeine, chocolate, and alcohol
How much does private Rezum treatment cost?
Please contact our Men’s Health centre for pricing information.