Trans Urethral Needle Ablation for Benign Prostate Hypertrophy (TUNA)
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The other non-invasive treatment for BPH is TUNA, trans urethral needle ablation, where we put an instrument into the prostate, you’ll have some needles inserted into the prostate, radiofrequency waves go through these needles into the prostate, again the prostate swells, and then with time it shrinks back and you can pass urine.
Unfortunately, it seems to be that this treatment has a high retreatment rate1 and also patients have a lot of trouble passing urine initially / mild hematuria (blood in urine)2.
The advantage of it is that it has a lower retrograde ejaculation rate2.
Trans Urethral Needle Ablation for Benign Prostate Hypertrophy (TUNA)
How TUNA works
Trans Urethral Needle Ablation (TUNA) is a non-invasive treatment for benign prostate hypertrophy (BPH). An instrument is passed into the prostate through the urethra and small needles are inserted into the prostate tissue. Radiofrequency waves travel through the needles into the prostate, causing it to swell initially. Over time the treated tissue shrinks back, which makes it easier to pass urine.
What to expect
TUNA has a relatively high retreatment rate1. In the early recovery period many patients have difficulty passing urine and may notice mild blood in the urine (haematuria)2.
Advantage compared with other BPH surgery
The main advantage of TUNA is a lower rate of retrograde ejaculation than with some other surgical options for an enlarged prostate2.
References
- TransUrethral Needle Ablation (TUNA) for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia - Medical Services Advisory Committee (MSAC) - Link
- Hossam Haroun, Hassan Eltatawy, M. G. Soliman - Evaluation of outcome of transurethral needle ablation for treating symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia: A 10-year experience - Urol Ann. 2019 Apr-Jun; 11(2): 198–203. doi: 10.4103/UA.UA_99_18