New Device Approved for Enlarged Prostate

The UroLift system has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat low or blocked urine flow in men aged 50 and older who have an enlarged prostate.

The prostate is a walnut-sized gland that's right below the bladder in males. When the gland becomes enlarged, as tends to happen in older men, it can restrict the flow of urine. The new device, which helps prevent the prostate from pressing on the urethra, was evaluated in clinical studies involving 274 men between the ages of 49 and 86. Participants given the device reported fewer symptoms of enlarged prostate and a better quality of life, the FDA said. The most common adverse reactions included pain or burning during urination, blood in the urine and incomplete emptying of the bladder. The UroLift system is produced by NeoTract Inc., based in Pleasanton, California.