Balloon dilatation is not for everyone, especially men with very large prostates. It works well for men with smaller glands or for those who are medically unfit to undergo a prostatectomy. The main problem with balloon treatment is its high failure rate. Some American urologists are already starting to use the balloon technique, even though it is considered an experimental treatment. The future of balloon therapy appears bleak, however, because of its unacceptable failure rate.
Lasers are the wave of the future in all types of surgery and urology is no exception.
A laser probe is inserted through the urethra under the guidance of ultrasound or cystoscopy and a sideways-firing beam vaporizes the obstructing tumor. The laser generates very high temperatures, so general anesthesia and an overnight hospital stay are required. As with balloon dilatation, some urologists have incorporated the laser into their practice despite its experimental status. It is clear, however, that the laser's popularity will grow exponentially over the next several years. This is the experimental treatment where a microwave probe is placed in the rectum or urethra and the prostate is heated in order to kill cancer cells.