Vol. 9, No. 3
December, 1999
External Beam Radiation Therapy Makes a Quantum Leap
Ambulatory Surgery Unit Expands
New Island Hospital Breaks Ground
Winthrop is Y2K Ready
Indigo Laser Relieves Symptoms of Benign Prostate Hyperplasia
Rheumatoid Arthritis Study
Dr. Scott Named Heart Association President
New Interventional Radiology Suite Unveiled
Mammotome® Breast Biopsy Procedure
Drug May Help Prevent Lung and Brain Damage in Premature Babies
Winthrop Nurses Never Stop Learning
Clinical Trial for Pancreatic Cancer
Winthrop: A Center for Lifesaving Autologous Stem Cell Transplants
Carnival in Venice Benefits Winthrop
John Broder Named Businessperson of the Year
Yuletide Ball
Winthrop’s Ninth Annual Flu Immunization Program Reached 1,500 Senior Citizens
Teens for Tots/Teen Angels’ Donation to Child Life Program
Winthrop’s Deserving Volunteers Receive Awards
Volunteers Needed at Winthrop
Visiting Scholar from Taiwan Studies at Winthrop
For Long Island Children who don't have Health Insurance
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 hey are called the “golden years,” yet as men age, common medical conditions can take some of the joy out of living. One such condition is benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH), enlargement of the prostate gland surrounding the urethra. Nationwide, an estimated seven million men over the age of 50 experience the symptoms of BPH, which include decreased force of the urinary stream, inability to completely empty the bladder, increased frequency of urination, especially at night, and intermittent stopping and starting of the urinary stream.
 Brett C. Mellinger, MD, Chairman of the Department of Urology at Winthrop.
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Now at Winthrop, urologists are using the new Indigo laser technique to treat BPH in men who cannot achieve relief through medication management.
“The ‘gold standard’ in terms of curing BPH is still surgery,” commented Brett C. Mellinger, MD, Chairman of Urology at Winthrop. “However, surgery requires a two-day hospital stay and has associated risks and side effects, including incontinence, impotence, and excessive bleeding.”
In contrast, the Indigo laser being used at Winthrop carries few risks and can be performed on an outpatient basis in the Hospital’s Ambulatory Surgery Unit.
The Indigo system is an optic laser that travels through a catheter to the prostate gland. It uses heat to coagulate excess tissue which is reabsorbed by the body over time. The laser is sophisticated enough to detect the difference between the prostate gland and nearby urethra. This enables urologists to shrink the prostate gland with a high degree of accuracy, preserving the lining of the urethra.
“Patients typically see improvement in their symptoms gradually over a three-to-six month period following treatment,” Dr. Mellinger said.
Success rates with the Indigo appear to approach those of surgery and seem to be superior to treatment with medication. “Patients report significant symptom improvement after treatment with the Indigo laser,” Dr. Mellinger noted.
All urologists who are affiliated with Winthrop are qualified to perform the Indigo laser procedure. For additional information on the procedure or a referral to a Winthrop urologist, call (516) 663-2234.
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