Transurethral needle ablation of the prostate
Encyclopedia
Transurethral needle ablation (TUNA) is a technique that uses low energy radio frequency
energy
delivered through two needles to ablate (destroy) excess prostate
tissue. It can be done with a local anesthetic
on an outpatient basis. A catheter
that deploys the needles toward the obstructing prostate tissue is inserted into the urethra directly through the penis under local anesthetic before the procedure begins.
Some clinical studies have reported that TUNA is safe and effective, improving the urine flow with minimal side effects when compared with other procedures. However, other studies have reported that the procedure has a high failure rate, with the majority of patients requiring re-treatment.
in 1996.
Radio frequency
Radio frequency is a rate of oscillation in the range of about 3 kHz to 300 GHz, which corresponds to the frequency of radio waves, and the alternating currents which carry radio signals...
energy
Energy
In physics, energy is an indirectly observed quantity. It is often understood as the ability a physical system has to do work on other physical systems...
delivered through two needles to ablate (destroy) excess prostate
Prostate
The prostate is a compound tubuloalveolar exocrine gland of the male reproductive system in most mammals....
tissue. It can be done with a local anesthetic
Local anesthetic
A local anesthetic is a drug that causes reversible local anesthesia, generally for the aim of having local analgesic effect, that is, inducing absence of pain sensation, although other local senses are often affected as well...
on an outpatient basis. A catheter
Catheter
In medicine, a catheter is a tube that can be inserted into a body cavity, duct, or vessel. Catheters thereby allow drainage, administration of fluids or gases, or access by surgical instruments. The process of inserting a catheter is catheterization...
that deploys the needles toward the obstructing prostate tissue is inserted into the urethra directly through the penis under local anesthetic before the procedure begins.
Some clinical studies have reported that TUNA is safe and effective, improving the urine flow with minimal side effects when compared with other procedures. However, other studies have reported that the procedure has a high failure rate, with the majority of patients requiring re-treatment.
History
The TUNA system was pioneered by Stu Edwards of California, USA. The device was the product for a startup company called Vidamed, which was founded by Stu D. Edwards along with Ron G. Lax, Hugh Sharky and Ingemar Lundquist, in Menlo Park, California, prior to building an international global corporation headed up by Lyle F. Brotherton. The company was floated in an IPO on the US NASDAQ Stock Market in 1995 and then acquired by MedtronicMedtronic
Medtronic, Inc. , based in suburban Minneapolis, Minnesota, is the world's largest medical technology company and is a Fortune 500 company.- History :...
in 1996.