Planning for iTind for BPH
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PAE (Prostate Arterial Embolization) last year did not work for me, so I am looking at the next "least invasive" option, which I have concluded is iTind.
My urologist does not perform this procedure, but a colleague in his practice does, so I met with him a couple of days ago for a consult.
He requires another cystoscopy first. He says that the most important factor for success is choosing the right patient, and the main criteria is size and position of the median lobe. The cystoscopy is scheduled for late July, 2022. Hopefully I will be OK'd and the procedure can be scheduled within the month after that.
In discussion, he admitted that he had only performed the procedure 4 times, but then claimed that was more than any other urologist in Arizona. He insisted that the procedure is very simple for a urologist to perform. The most important part is making sure the device is fully retracted before pulling it out. I would hope so!
Anyway, he said he has more procedures scheduled and will have had more experience before it is my turn.
As a side note, he said he was not surprised that PAE did not work for me, as a 40 cc prostate is too small. I knew it was marginal going in.
If iTind does not work, or I am not a candidate, then I guess Urolift is the next "least invasive" option. I just like the idea of reshaping the prostate rather than cutting or blasting it away.
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daryl54162
Posted
I am the original poster.
One year out and it is very clear that iTind did nothing for me except cause an uncomfortable week or two.
BPH has gotten a little worse over the past year, and I'm considering my next step. I'm looking at either Urolift or TURP.
On the one hand, I want to continue following my path of least invasive procedures (First PAE, then iTInd), so Urolift would be the next obvious choice.
But on the other hand I'm starting to think maybe my urologist is right and there's a reason TURP is called the "Gold Standard". Despite "studies" showing these alternative, "minimally invasive" treatments have results comparable with TURP, my experience has not been good.