Guidance
The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has issued full guidance to the NHS in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland on insertion of prostatic urethral lift implants to treat lower urinary tract symptoms secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia, in January 2014.
Description
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common condition that affects older men. It is characterised by an increase in the size of the prostate, which is caused by an increased number of stromal and epithelial cells. BPH can cause lower urinary tract symptoms including hesitancy during micturition, interrupted or decreased urine stream (volume and flow rate), nocturia, incomplete voiding and urinary retention.
Mild symptoms are usually managed conservatively. Drugs such as alpha blockers can be used to relax the smooth muscle of the urethra. Androgen blockers such as 5-alpha-reductase can also be used. If symptoms are more severe, then surgical treatments may be used including transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) or transurethral vaporisation of the prostate, or holmium laser enucleation of the prostate (see NICE guideline CG97).
Coding and clinical classification codes for this guidance