Teleflex (NYSE:TFX) subsidiary NeoTract said today that the American Urological Association now recommends the use of NeoTract’s UroLift system as a standard of care treatment for lower urinary tract symptoms due to benign prostatic hyperplasia.
The company’s UroLift system uses tiny devices inserted into the urethra in a minimally invasive procedure to reopen the lower urinary tract by pushing aside tissue from the enlarged prostate, the Pleasanton, Calif.-based company said.
In a set of newly released clinical guidelines, the AUA recommends that the UroLift prostatic urethral lift procedure “should be considered for the management of men’s lower urinary tract symptoms attributed to BPH.” The guidelines were developed by a panel of experts, NeoTract said, and were last revised in 2010.
The AUA warned that, due to the “strong observed relationship between erectile dysfunction and BPH,” patients should be counseled about possible side effects of surgical interventions and outcomes of surgical treatment related to sexual function.
“The AUA is strongly committed to doing what is best for patients. With the inclusion of the UroLift system in these new guidelines, the AUA provides support of the UroLift system as a treatment in the best interest of patients. Following treatment with the UroLift system, thousands of men have avoided invasive surgery, are no longer needing medications, and are back to living their lives, without giving up normal sexual function. We are hopeful that this recommendation from AUA will mean that many more men will choose the UroLift system,” NeoTract interventional urology biz prez Dave Amerson said in a press release.
In February, Neotract said that it won expanded indications from the FDA for its UroLift prostate treatment.
