The
HIFU procedure
If you decide to choose the Sonablate HIFU procedure you will receive pre-operative
instructions from your personal physician. You should follow those instructions,
the following is only a short summary of what to expect during a typical procedure.
Typical preparation
for the HIFU procedure
If scheduled for a morning case, patients are prohibited from eating and are
allowed only water on the day of treatment. For an evening case patients may
have a light breakfast, then commence on clear fluids for the rest of the day
and are allowed to drink only water until two hours before admission. The night
before the procedure patients will have to prepare themselves by taking an enema
at home.
Patients will be admitted to the hospital on the morning of the HIFU procedure
where they will be given another enema and any necessary blood
tests, ECG or x-rays that might be needed. A consultant will
see the patient before he goes to theatre to answer any last
minute questions and for the patient to sign an informed consent.
Patients will also be seen by the anaesthetist.
How is the HIFU performed?
Patients will be given a general anaesthetic and once asleep, an ultrasound
probe will be placed into the rectum. The Sonablate is than able to capture
real-time images of the prostate gland, allowing the treating physician to
create a customised treatment plan for each patient. The physician then uses
the Sonablate to deliver the ultrasound energy to extremely small target
sites, or focal points, throughout the prostate gland. Tissue at the focal
point is destroyed upon receiving HIFU, while healthy structures outside
the targeted area remain unharmed.
What happens after the
treatment?
In most cases the HIFU procedure lasts between two to four hours depending
on the size of the prostate. A catheter is left in place following the procedure
for drainage of urine and will remain for two to three weeks (varies according
to each patient). There is typically little pain associated with the procedure
and patients usually get back to their normal routine within a few days. All
medical procedures have risks and benefits; all potential side effects and
complications should be discussed with a physician prior to undergoing any
procedure. Please see the potential side effects section of the website for
a complete list of possible complications from the HIFU procedure.
This is a general explanation of events,
depending on the location and physician performing the procedure,
personal experiences may differ slightly.
