(EMAILWIRE.COM, January 29, 2002 ) Oakwood Annapolis physician Mahmood Hai, M.D, pioneers breakthrough procedure

Oakwood Annapolis Hospital has announced it is the first hospital worldwide to begin using the revolutionary Niagara PVP(TM) laser photo-selective vaporization procedure (PVP) for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The 20-minute procedure, performed under local anesthetic, reduces recovery time from weeks to days, is virtually bloodless and is almost half the cost of traditional invasive surgery. The procedure yields immediate results with almost no complications or negative sexual side effects.

Mahmood Hai, M.D., Oakwood Annapolis Hospital urology specialist and clinical advisor of the system said, "This is the most effective and significant treatment I have ever used in my 25 years of treating BPH. This will become the 'gold standard' for treatment of BPH."

Oakwood Annapolis Hospital's breakthrough Niagara PVP system and KTP/532nm laser were developed by Laserscope© (San Jose, Calif.) in consultation with Dr. Hai.

Oakwood Annapolis Hospital is the first and, currently, the only hospital in the world to perform the Niagara PVP procedure and own a KTP laser machine. Dr. Hai has performed over 50 procedures with the new laser since December 2000, and confirms its effectiveness in his training sessions.

"Niagara PVP allows a much less invasive, and therefore, much safer surgical experience for BPH patients. We expect the Niagara PVP procedure to completely replace existing BPH procedures in the next several years," Dr. Hai explained.

Because of its unprecedented high power, the KTP laser pulses, delivered through a fiber the thickness of a hair inserted in the urinary passage, completely vaporize obstructive prostate tissue. The laser seals the surrounding area creating a virtually bloodless procedure. The procedure generally takes around 20 minutes and is generally done under local anesthetic. Recovery time is reduced from three weeks to two days. Patients can return to work the day after the operation.

More than 13 million men in the United States are diagnosed each year with BPH, and over two million seek treatment. Half of all men age 60 have BPH and the incidence of the disorder increases steadily with age so that by age 80, more than 80-percent of men have BPH. Some symptoms of the condition are: difficulty in urination, reduced flow rate, frequent urination, and incomplete urination, which can cause leaking, burning, or other discomfort while urinating.

Prior to the Niagara PVP procedure, drug and invasive surgical treatments resulted in negative side effects that included dizziness, urinary tract infections, incontinence, and even impotence.

Oakwood Annapolis's procedure produces minimal side effects, and unlike previously used procedures for BPH, patients are not required to wear a catheter, and can return to their normal lives within two days.

Dr. Hai has been performing laser surgery for BPH since 1991. In 1997, Hai, realizing the increasing need for a more powerful laser, approached Laserscope to develop the next generation laser. Over the next few years, Hai and Laserscope worked together to create the 80-watt KTP/nm laser machine. Dr. Hai oversaw and conducted all clinical studies. Dr. Hai recently completed two years of clinical trials, which he conducted at Oakwood Annapolis Hospital. Hai has authored the physician training manual and is training urologists across the nation in the use of the Niagara PVP procedure.

Oakwood Healthcare System is a comprehensive regional network of hospitals, healthcare centers, skilled nursing centers and related healthcare facilities. Oakwood has medical staff of more than 1,200 doctors, and provides service to more than 1.2 million people in 35 southeastern Michigan communities. Oakwood's specialty services include women's and children's health (including high-risk obstetrics and neonatal care), geriatrics, emergency care, cancer care, cardiology, and a number of surgical specialties. Oakwood was named one of the top 100 cardiology programs in the nation for three consecutive years. Oakwood is affiliated with the schools of medicine at Wayne State University and the University of Michigan and is a member of the University of Michigan Cancer Center Network. With more than 9,000 associates, Oakwood is the second-largest employer in suburban Wayne County.

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Produced for Oakwood Annapolis Hospital

Contact:

Martha Gibiser Shea, 313-791-1419

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Oakwood Annapolis Hospital
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