Eleos Specialist Hospital in Umuahia has pioneered bipolar enucleation of the prostate in Nigeria.
By Avid Reporters
Bipolar enucleation of the prostate is giving men with severely enlarged prostates another minimally invasive treatment option, with Umuahia-based Eleos Specialist Hospital documented as the first hospital in Nigeria to commence the technique.
The procedure allows surgeons to remove the obstructing enlarged prostate tissue through the urinary passage, eliminating the need for an open abdominal operation even in cases involving very large prostates.
The development was reported by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in 2023 after Dr Paul E. Ngwu, a Consultant Urologist and Laparoscopic Surgeon at Eleos Specialist Hospital, said the facility had successfully performed more than 20 bipolar enucleation procedures between March and August of that year.
What Makes Bipolar Enucleation Different?
Bipolar enucleation is an endoscopic technique used to treat an enlarged prostate, medically known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).
Rather than making a large incision through the lower abdomen to reach the prostate, the surgeon works through the urinary passage using specialised instruments.
At Eleos Specialist Hospital, the procedure is listed among the hospital’s treatments for BPH, alongside procedures such as HoLEP, ThuFLEP, transurethral resection and transurethral vaporisation of the prostate.
The hospital describes bipolar enucleation as an approach that can be used even for very large prostates without opening the patient’s body.
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Why Large Prostates Have Traditionally Been A Challenge
An enlarged prostate can compress the urethra and make it difficult for urine to pass from the bladder.
Symptoms can include weak urine flow, frequent urination, difficulty starting urination, incomplete emptying of the bladder and, in more severe cases, urinary retention.
Historically, very large prostates could require an open prostatectomy, in which surgeons make an incision to access and remove the enlarged tissue.
Endoscopic techniques changed the treatment landscape by allowing surgeons to operate through the urinary passage. Bipolar enucleation takes that minimally invasive approach further by allowing the surgeon to separate and remove the enlarged prostate tissue from its capsule.
Eleos’ own information describes bipolar enucleation as a treatment particularly suited to very large prostates.
What Dr Paul Ngwu Said About The Technology
Speaking about the procedure, Dr Paul Ngwu explained that bipolar enucleation could be used to remove very large prostates without an open operation.
He identified Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate (HoLEP) and Thulium Laser Enucleation among the earlier technologies capable of achieving a similar objective.
According to reporting by NAN, Ngwu said the technique was particularly suited to very large prostates and that Eleos had performed more than 20 procedures within the first several months of its use.
A contemporaneous Punch report also identified Eleos Specialist Hospital as the first Nigerian hospital to commence bipolar enucleation and reported the hospital’s claim that patients could leave within a day or two and return to work earlier.
Not The Same As Removing The Entire Prostate Gland
Despite descriptions that the prostate can be “removed completely,” it is important to understand what the procedure actually does.
For benign prostate enlargement, the surgeon removes the enlarged obstructing tissue while the prostate capsule remains.
This is different from a radical prostatectomy, which is a cancer operation designed to remove the prostate gland and surrounding structures as indicated.
Eleos separately lists laparoscopic and open radical prostatectomy among its services for prostate cancer.
This distinction is important because bipolar enucleation is primarily a treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia, not a replacement for radical prostatectomy in prostate cancer cases.
The Recovery Advantage
One of the attractions of minimally invasive prostate procedures is recovery.
According to Dr Ngwu’s comments reported by Punch, patients undergoing the procedure could potentially go home within a day or two and return to work earlier than patients undergoing conventional open surgery.
However, recovery time varies from patient to patient and depends on factors including prostate size, overall health, the specific procedure performed and whether complications occur.
Patients should therefore be assessed individually by a qualified urologist before deciding on a treatment option.
Eleos Continues To Offer Advanced Prostate Treatment
Eleos Specialist Hospital’s current website lists a range of treatments for benign prostatic hyperplasia, including HoLEP, bipolar enucleation, ThuFLEP, transurethral vaporisation, transurethral resection and transurethral incision of the prostate.
The hospital says it specialises in minimally invasive procedures and was originally established with a strong focus on urology. Its current website lists its Umuahia branch at 32 Azikiwe Road, Umuahia, Abia State.
Independent Nigerian medical literature also documents bipolar enucleation as part of contemporary endoscopic prostate surgery. A 2025 study of urological surgeries at a Nigerian specialist hospital reported TURP/bipolar enucleation among the procedures performed, reflecting the growing use of minimally invasive approaches to prostate disease in Nigeria.
A Major Development For Urological Care In Nigeria
The introduction of bipolar enucleation at Eleos represents an important development in access to minimally invasive prostate treatment in Nigeria.
For men with very large benign prostate enlargement, the availability of an endoscopic approach can provide an alternative to open surgery in appropriately selected cases.
The broader significance is also clear: Nigerian specialist hospitals are increasingly adopting technologies that allow complex urological procedures to be performed locally rather than requiring patients to travel abroad for advanced treatment.
For anyone experiencing symptoms associated with an enlarged prostate, however, the appropriate procedure depends on individual medical assessment. Symptoms should not automatically be assumed to be caused by BPH, and men should consult a qualified urologist for proper diagnosis and treatment planning.
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