HIFU in Bilbao

Yesterday I travelled to Bilbao, where I visited Dr. Astobieta and Dr. Ibarluzea, that had scheduled a session of HIFU (High Intensity Focused Ultrasound) treatments for two patients diagnosed of prostate cancer. We are good friends and we share the passion for minimally invasive technologies and we had a chance to discuss the latests news in Urology and our recent experiences.

I have been invited to participate in an international meeting they organise the 1st of March, in principle to lecture on the new Greenlight HPS, and if possible, to perform a live surgical operation.

I then came back to Madrid, and attended the inauguration of the new headquarters of IML (Instituto Médico Láser), by my friends, the Surgeon Dr. Moreno Moraga and his wife, also a plastic surgeon, Dr. Josefina Royo. They have the biggest laser and technological unit in Europe and they devote their efforts to applying state of the art technology in the treatment of cutaneous diseases, varicoise veins, obesity and so on. They are growing fast and they are offering technological treatments in other areas, as plastic surgery, ophtalmology and dentistry. We will soon collaborate offering laser treatments of urological conditions.

Visitors from Belgium

Today I had scheduled a surgical session in Madrid and we received the visit of Dr. Philip Ameye and Ben Van Kleinebrugel, from the University Hospital from Leuven, Belgium. I performed three laser prostatectomies with the new 120 watt Greenlight HPS, and they came to theatre to witness these operations first hand. They already have experience with the 80 watt Greenlight PV system, but they wanted to see the new HPS in action, as they are evaluating the possibility of purchasing one.
I explained them my ideas on this operation and how should one handle this new laser.

I performed three operations from 9.30 am to 2.30 pm, all uneventful, and we went out for lunch to celebrate their visit. We had fun and we also learned a lot. I always learn from the opinions and comments from other coleagues - these are top class urologists performing state of the art surgery in Leuven, Belgium.

I got an invitation to operate in Belgium in March. It seems there is a Urology Professor that is interested in this technique but that would like to see with his own eyes not only some operations, but also the postoperative recovery of his own patients. So I will do some surgeries there to allow them to ascertain if Photoselective Vaporization of the Prostate keeps up with its wonderful reputation.