GreenLight laser surgery news

Harley Street Urology invests in third generation XPS GreenLight laser machine

Harley Street Urology is one of the first UK clinics to invest in the new £100,000 GreenLight laser machine.

Known as the Greenlight XPS, the machine is almost twice as powerful as its predecessor, reducing operating time and allowing large prostates to be effectively treated. It is the ‘third generation’ of technology used to deliver this innovative treatment.

The XPS system also has a new feature called pulse coagulation, which reduces the risk of blood loss. The pulses of energy cause the blood vessels in the surgical area to coagulate, or solidify. By providing pulsed, rather than a constant flow of energy, the XPS system allows tissue to quickly cool down and coagulate, preventing blood loss.

“The principle behind GreenLight laser has always been using high-powered energy beams to vaporise excess tissue and coagulate blood vessels to minimise bleeding,” explains Alan Doherty, Consultant Urologist of Harley Street Urology.

“The XPS system allows us to do both of these things far more efficiently. We have greater power, which is particularly important in terms of allowing us to treat larger prostates.

“We also have pulsed coagulation which means we can minimise bleeding in the most safe and effective way possible,” said Mr Doherty, who is one of the most experienced surgeons using GreenLight laser in the UK.

“Although a number of surgeons in the UK offer nerve-sparing surgery, we don’t currently have an agreed, baseline assessment for measuring the long term effects of surgery,” explains Mr Doherty.

GreenLight laser was introduced in the UK in 2007 as an alternative to TURP for the treatment of the enlarged prostate. Like TURP, the treatment is based on removing excess prostate tissue to allow a normal flow or urine from the bladder through the urethra. TURP uses heated surgical wire to cut away surplus tissue. GreenLight laser is based on vaporising the excess tissue and studies show much reduced trauma, bleeding and more rapid recovery after laser treatment, compared with TURP.

As the third generation of the GreenLight laser machines, the XPS builds on extensive worldwide experience and refining the laser technology.

Another unique feature of the Greenlight XPS is an infra-red signal, transmitted from the far end of the fibres used to deliver the energy beams. This infra-red signal is transmitted if the fibres become too hot. The breaking of fibres due to heat is a complication reported by surgeons using earlier machines.

The power is highly controlled and accurate. The XPS has a 180 watts maximum, compared with 120 watts of previous machines. This extra power is used to create a wider wavelength, allowing for quicker and more effective procedures. However the wavelength remains 523 nanometers, which means the depth used is the same as before.