On the day of the procedure, a light meal and lots of fluids are recommended.
The procedure itself is quick and simple, taking only a single one- to two-hour office visit. Depending on the size of the prostate, the procedure consists of two to seven injections, each nine seconds long.
Upon arriving, you will be instructed to eliminate urine, and the bladder is then checked. If there is still more urine in the bladder, it’s drained to avoid having to drain it during the procedure.
Both the prostate and the penis are numbed. The Rezum device is inserted, a needle is deployed, and vapor is injected into the prostate for nine seconds. This vapor disperses between cells, then cools, releases heat, and gently disrupts the prostate’s cells.
Because of the initial swelling, a catheter is then inserted, which will remain for two to five days. The catheter is hooked to a bag that stays on the leg and is covered by pants. A driver is required to take the patient home.
What to Expect After Rezum
After the Rezum procedure, the body creates an inflammatory response, which takes two to four months to completely resolve. Initially, there will be swelling in the prostate, which can cause restriction of flow and cause more difficulty and frequency of urination.
Symptoms will get worse before they get better. Generally, at two weeks symptoms begin to stabilize. At four weeks, patients are back where they were before the procedure, and at six weeks patients start to get off medication.
Erections are not affected by the Rezum procedure. There is a one to two percent chance of retrograde ejaculation, which occurs when semen enters the bladder instead of the penis, causing very little to no semen to be ejaculated. This is a significantly lower percentage than in other prostate procedures.
