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Subject:   Re: hifu mindwarp trivia from planet earth Name:   TV Date Posted:   May 3, 08 - 7:25 PM Email:   tv168@yourlink.ca Message:   Hi holloman There are some mistakes in your information. The Albatherm is a HIFU system that requires that the prostate size be 40cc (g) or less. The Toronto Maple Leaf HIFU which uses Albatherm has just recently received a new probe that can do prostates that have one dimension of the prostate as long as 38mm. This is the upper limit of that dimension but the other dimensions (length, width or height) could be longer as those other dimensions would only increase the number of planes of treatment and/or the number of shots in each plane. So, they were going to do me at 43.5cc but I was at the upper limit and did not want to risk the chance of having to redo the procedure as one of the dimensions was 38mm. A shot is a strip of prostate tissue between 1 and 2mm square by several millimeters in length. The length of the shots is different in each of the machines. The Albatherm's shots are almost the entire depth of the plane of treatment which is the entire width, length or height of the prostate depending upon which dimension is 38mm or less for this new probe. From my discussion with the people at Maple Leaf HIFU in Toronto the newer Albatherm probes now divides the prostate into a few blocks. The Sonablate machine can do larger prostates upto 50cc (g). The Sonablate machine has two probes--one has a focus point for longer distance away for the the transducer (sound emitter) and a short distance probe for areas near the transducer. The Sonablate system divides the prostate into three zones, top, middle and lower which is list as anterior (head end) middle and posterior (tail end). Each zone is divided into two blocks, left and right. The Sonablate machine take a shot that is about 1 to 2mm square by 10 to 15mm long. These tiny strips of treated tissue, basically burned by the ultrasound, are slightly overlapped to completely obliterate the prostate tissue along the plane of treatment. Both system can adjust the length of the shot, Albathem between 18 to 24mm and Sonablate which uses smaller shot lengths--10 to 15mm. The Sonablate machince can get into smaller areas as did my doctor for me. My prostate cancer was located near the apex of the gland where the capsule is thinnest and folds so there was a chance if cells were left in this area they could escape. My doctor created a seventh block in very end of the apex consisting of a few shot to insure that no prostate tissue remained. The Albatherm uses a set intensity of sound so it cannot make any adjustments for differences in prostate sound absorption in different men while the Sonablate can change the intensity of sound for tissue density and abstructions like calcium deposits. The Sonablate procedure states that incontinuence is 0.6% which is almost non existant. Erectile dysfunction is 20% with nerve sparing procedure and this is probably a lot less as they have patients take Cialis after the suprapubic catheter is removed to improve blood flow the erectile tissue of the penis. The suprapubic catheter is a catheter that is inserted through the body wall into the bladder just above the pubic bone a lot easier to cope with then an urethral catheter (in the penis). I am aware that the Albatherm treatments frequently will have the patient undergo a TURP to reduce the prostate size and apparently it is supposed to reduce the pain after the treatment and it does work from what I have read. The Albatherm is not capable of taking ultrasound images while the procedure is taking place. They seem to take one and use it for the whole procedure. This I find a little disconcerting as the prostate swells with the first burning process. My doctor told me, and I was awake during my Sonablate procedure, that my prostate swoll about 10% of its volume so the Albatherm doctors must adjust for that or maybe they stop the procedure to take another image. The Sonablate machine takes an image after each shot so the doctor is continually update on any changes in the prostate. The Sonablate does not require any TURPs. As to the prostate tissue working is way out through the penis, well some tissue is sloughed off but some tissue is absorbed as I am now 5 weeks post procedure (done on March 29, 2008) and I have very little tissue loss, partically none. However, this process of passing necrotic tissue is supposed to continue for about 2 months--not sure of the length of time. From my point of view even with the problems I have had with Winnipeg Sonablate clinic this is a better way to go. I am totally continent right from square one, (beginning). The only thing that does create a problem is the urgentency to urinate. Like it is now so you need to be able to get to a washroom within a minute or so or you start to flow. You can use the kegel exercise technique for control and it works to prevent the flow from starting. From my point of view the Toronto Sonablate CANAM HIFU is better than Winnipeg. The Toronto clinic has been around for a long time and the Winnipeg clinic just open this February, 2008. The Toronto Sonablate clinic was swamped with work as I understand that is why they opened three new Canadian Sonblate clinics in Winnipeg, Niagara and Montreal. Here are the addresses and phone numbers of the two types of clinics just for you information. Albatherm Maple Leaf HIFU Ph. 1-877-370-4438 internet http://www.hifu.ca:80/ Sonablate USHIFU ph 1-888-874-4384 internet www.ushifu.com Replies:     Re: hifu mindwarp trivia from planet earth by Ted · May 3, 08 - 9:56 PM Re: Re: hifu mindwarp trivia from planet earth by TV from Canada · May 4, 08 - 8:20 AM

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