SMG Yonsei Hospital Introduces Rezum System, Gyeongnam's First for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Treatment

Minimally Invasive Medical Device Using Water Vapor

SMG Yonsei Hospital announced on the 3rd that it will introduce the Rezum System, a treatment device for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), for the first time in Gyeongnam.

Photo by Oh Jeonghyun, Head of Urology Department.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia is a condition commonly occurring in middle-aged and older men, where the prostate enlarges and compresses the urethra, causing symptoms such as difficulty urinating, frequent urination, and nocturia.

The Rezum procedure is a "transurethral prostate resection using steam." It is designed to alleviate urinary symptoms caused by BPH and is applied to patients with mild to moderate symptoms.

The principle of the Rezum procedure involves directly injecting high-temperature steam into the prostate tissue through a delivery device inserted along the urethra, causing necrosis of the enlarged prostate tissue, thereby reducing the size of the prostate and alleviating BPH symptoms. The procedure can be performed under local anesthesia or sedation. As a minimally invasive treatment, the procedure takes only about 10 to 15 minutes, and post-procedure pain is minimal, allowing for a quick return to daily life.

The Rezum System has been approved by the US FDA, received approval from the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in 2022, and was recognized as a new medical technology by the Ministry of Health and Welfare last year.

Oh Junghyun, Head of the Department of Urology, said, "Improvement of symptoms begins about two weeks after the Rezum procedure, and the improved BPH symptoms can be maintained for about five years. Side effects may occur depending on the individual, but they generally disappear within a short period. We are very pleased that the introduction of the Rezum System enables BPH patients to receive convenient and safe treatment without surgery."

Meanwhile, the introduction of the Rezum System at SMG Yonsei Hospital is expected to play an important role in establishing the hospital as a leading provider of innovative, patient-centered medical services in the region.