NanoKnife IRE

Irreversible Electroporation of the Prostate

ABOUT NANOKNIFE

What is NanoKnife ?

NanoKnife, also known as irreversible electroporation (IRE) of the prostate, is a procedure which uses electrical pulses to create holes in the walls of prostate cancer cells, leading to cell death.

NanoKnife is a type of focal therapy. Unlike conventional prostate cancer treatments which treat the whole prostate, focal therapy involves only treating the part of the prostate where cancer cells are located.

Focal therapy results in less damage to structures around the prostate, reducing the risk of side effects including urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction.

Why is NanoKnife performed?

NanoKnife is used to treat prostate cancer which is localised to the prostate.

It is a treatment option for men with low or intermediate risk prostate cancer (Gleason grade 6 or 7/ ISUP grade group 1 to 3, PSA <15ng/mL).

The cancer must be localised to one part of the prostate and must be able to be seen on an MRI scan of the prostate.

Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is a disease caused by abnormal growth of cells in the prostate. These cells have the potential to grow within the prostate and spread to other parts of the body.

PATIENT JOURNEY

What does NanoKnife involve?

Nanoknife involves passing needle electrodes through the perineum (the skin between the scrotum and anus) into the prostate. A high powered electrical current is passed between the electrodes to kill the cancerous cells.

During the proceudre, a probe is placed into the rectum to give real-time ultrasound images of the prostate, helping guide the electrode placement.

The procedure is performed under a general anaesthetic.

What is the recovery after NanoKnife?

NanoKnife can be performed as a day surgery or with a one night stay in hospital.

A catheter is inserted at the end of the procedure. It is usually removed one to five days later. If you are discharged with a catheter, you will be given detailed instructions on how to manage the catheter at home.

You will have mild pain in the pelvis and perineum for a few days after the procedure. You will have urinary frequency and stinging when passing urine for a few weeks after the catheter is removed.

You can usually return to most activities, including work, within a week or two of NanoKnife.

Will any other prostate cancer treatment be required after NanoKnife?

The majority of men who have NanoKnife IRE wont require any further treatment for prostate cancer.

After NanoKnife treatment, we monitor for prostate cancer recurrence with regular PSA tests, MRI scans of the prostate, and a follow up prostate biopsy.

If there is evidence of cancer recurrence within the prostate, it is possible to repeat NanoKnife treatment, or to have treatment with surgery or radiation therapy.

OUR TEAM

Meet our Urologists

The following doctors in our practice perform NanoKnife irreversibl electroporation:

Dr Jason Paterdis

Urologist

Dr Anojan Navaratnam