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UroLift — Prostatic Urethral Lift (PUL)

UroLift is a mechanical prostatic tissue-retraction implant system used for BPH-related bladder outlet obstruction. Small nitinol / stainless-steel implants are deployed transurethrally to retract the lateral prostatic lobes away from the urethral lumen, creating a wider channel without tissue resection or ablation.

Device & Mechanism​

  • Implant consists of a stainless-steel urethral capsular tab, a nitinol urethral tab, and a monofilament polyester suture connecting them through the prostatic parenchyma
  • Deployed via a dedicated transurethral delivery handpiece under direct cystoscopic visualization
  • Typically 2–4 implants per prostate; patient-dependent

Indications​

  • BPH-related LUTS with predominantly lateral-lobe obstruction
  • Patients who:
    • Wish to preserve ejaculation (PUL has high ejaculation-preservation rates)
    • Want to avoid TURP / ablative BPH therapy
    • Need to preserve sexual function
  • Contraindications: median-lobe obstruction, prostate >80 g (relative), prior TURP

Reconstructive Relevance​

The UroLift is primarily a BPH-management device, but reconstructive urologists encounter:

  • Device complications — misplaced implants, urethral erosion of the urethral tab, persistent LUTS
  • Device-adjacent reconstruction — stricture or contracture after UroLift in select patients
  • Imaging findings — implants are clearly visible on CT and should not be mistaken for foreign body or calculus by readers unfamiliar with the device

See also: Himplant.