“Prostate surgery, has done what surgery is supposed to do: improve quality of life … HoLEP set me back to the way I was 20 years ago, which is a good thing!” said Rick.
Rick Malwitz, a 76-year-old resident of Somerset, New Jersey, had spent 44 years weaving together narratives as a columnist for the Home News Tribune. Retirement brought him a sense of tranquility and the joy of spending time with his grandchildren as well as volunteering at a nursing home and a youth baseball team. However, in August 2022, life took an unexpected turn.
Rick began experiencing troubling symptoms such as a considerably weakened urine stream and an urgent need to urinate with little output. By November 2023, concerned and seeking the best care possible, Rick turned to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH), an RWJBarnabas Health facility and New Jersey’s largest academic medical center with Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.
There, he received the diagnosis of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). About 50% of men between ages 51 and 60 suffer from BPH, which is a noncancerous increase in the size of the prostate gland. That number leaps to 70% of men in their sixties and 80% of men over the age of seventy. Malwitz’ s condition was severe enough to necessitate surgery. The aim of surgery is to make the prostate gland smaller so that it no longer pushes against the bladder and urethra. If left untreated BPH can lead to serious complications such as kidney stones, bladder damage and urinary tract infections (UTIs).
As time passed, Rick's symptoms worsened, forcing him to rely on a catheter and endure frequent, painful UTIs. His lowest point came on Christmas morning, when a debilitating UTI sent him to the RWJUH Emergency Department. Despite the sadness of spending Christmas in the hospital, Rick found solace in the compassionate care provided by the staff, which made the difficult experience more bearable.
“I was heartbroken to spend Christmas morning in the hospital, but the team—from the nurses to food services—was exceptionally kind and compassionate,” said Rick.
In April 2024, Rick underwent Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate (HoLEP) surgery, performed by Dr. Ji Hae Park, a board-certified urologist who specializes in endourology, minimally invasive surgeries for BPH and complex kidney stones.
Dr. Park is the Director of the RWJUH HoLEP program, as well as the Assistant Program Director of the Urology Residency Program and Assistant Professor at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. Park started the first HoLEP program in New Jersey, with a particular focus on men who have extreme prostate enlargement or who are deemed high risk due to other co-morbidities such as obesity, heart disease or diabetes.
HoLEP is an advanced, treatment option that carefully removes obstructive prostate tissue using a high-precision laser beam that is deployed via a catheter. This minimally invasive procedure eliminates prostate tissue without requiring incisions and with the vast majority of patients discharged without a urinary catheter. Simply put, men go home with the ability to clear their bladder normally.
Prior to advances like HoLEP, common treatment options for prostate enlargement required open surgery, which entails a 5-7 day stay in the hospital and 2-6 weeks until full recovery, including use of a urinary catheter post-discharge. HoLEP flips this script, with just an overnight stay required and almost all men leaving the hospital without a catheter.
“HoLEP surgery has revolutionized the treatment for men with extremely enlarged prostate glands, but is beneficial to all patients with BPH,” said Dr. Park. “It provides effective relief with minimal recovery time, allowing patients to quickly return to their normal activities. Especially activities that most take for granted – like sleeping through the night, going to the movie theater or taking long car rides without stopping constantly.”
The minimally invasive procedure marked a turning point in Rick’s battle against BPH. He spent just one night in the hospital and was discharged the next day. Remarkably, within a week, his symptoms were completely eliminated.
“Prostate surgery, has done what surgery is supposed to do: improve quality of life … HoLEP set me back to the way I was 20 years ago, which is a good thing!” said Rick.
Rick's journey from health struggles to recovery is a testament to his resilience and the outstanding care he received at RWJUH. Now symptom-free, Rick continues to relish his time with his grandchildren and his volunteer work, embracing life with a renewed vigor and a deep appreciation for the medical professionals who helped restore his health.
Learn more about Holmium Laser Enucleation of the Prostate (HoLEP) at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital.