Can a temporary implanted device (TIND) help symptoms of an enlarged prostate?

This study was a 3-year follow-up of a temporary implantable nitinol device (TIND) to treat symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH – enlarged prostate). The study found that TIND is safe and effective for at least 36 months after treatment.

BPH is a common problem in older men. This can commonly lead to urinary symptoms by blocking outflow of urine. Medication can be effective, but not all men respond to treatment. TIND is a device that is temporarily inserted into the urethra to open it up in order to reduce the narrowing caused by an enlarged prostate. The procedure to insert and remove the TIND device is minimally invasive.

32 patients with urinary symptoms due to BPH were included in the study. TIND was inserted at the bladder neck and removed 5 days later. Quality of life, improvements and surgical complications were evaluated. Patients were followed-up at 3 and 6 weeks, as well as 3, 6, 12, 24 and 36 months after TIND implantation.

Prostate symptoms, urinary symptoms and quality of life were all increased at every follow-up time point. At 36 months, there was a 41% increase in urine flow.

All TIND implantations were successful with no complications during the surgery. 4 patients (12.5%) experienced complications after the procedure. These included urinary retention (inability to pass urine), TIND device displacement (movement away from its intended position) and 2 cases of infection.

The study concluded that TIND is a safe and effective treatment option for urinary symptoms due to BPH.

Larger studies that compare TIND to other treatment options are needed to confirm its effectiveness.