Investigators have long sought safer and less invasive alternatives to surgical prostate resection for treatment of BPH. Recently, several new procedures and devices have been created and evaluated in an attempt to relieve bladder outlet obstruction and to improve urinary flow; these new methods include TUMT, transurethral laser incision of the prostate (TULIP), and transurethral needle ablation (TUNA),

TUNA (Transurethral Needle Ablation)

TUNA Therapy is a proven minimally invasive office-based procedure that destroys excess prostate tissue, which may improve urination. TUNA Therapy, which takes less than an hour (with some additional preparation time required), requires only minimal anesthesia, and allows you to return to many of your normal activities within 24-48 hours. All have a catheter for 3 days and a few have it up to two weeks. TUNA Therapy is covered by Medicare in all 50 states and Puerto Rico.
In the TUNA procedure, obstructive prostate tissue is destroyed (ablated) using radiofrequency (RF) energy. Only the obstructive tissue is destroyed. The urethra and the rest of the prostate remain intact. See Procedure for a more detailed description.
Clinical studies have demonstrated that treatment with the TUNA system offers improved urine flow, excellent symptom relief and few side effects and adverse events when compared to traditional surgical treatment. In addition, in the clinical trials, there were no reports of incontinence and few reports of impotence. TUNA Therapy has been on the market since 1996.