A PIONEERING technique developed by an Ilkley surgeon could be a major step to improving the lives of millions of women.

Surgeon Naren Samtaney hopes that the high tech treatment will one day put an end to women having to go through major surgery to solve a debilitating but common problem.

The consultant gynaecologist and obstetrician at Airedale General Hospital has helped develop the major breakthrough in the treatment of heavy bleeding during periods.

Mr Samtaney explained that 22 per cent of women were affected by heavy bleeding, making their lives more difficult.

But up until recently, the only treatment on offer was hysterectomy, which is the removal of the womb. Such drastic surgery dissuaded women from opting for treatment.

But the new technique, called ELITT, can cure the problem without having to resort to major surgery, said Mr Samtaney, who lives in Westwood Drive.

It offers a high tech laser treatment which can be done during an out-patient visit, under local anaesthetic, taking just seven minutes.

Mr Samtaney said: "The treatment involves connection to a machine about the size of a laptop computer and takes seven minutes. Ninety percent of women are completely happy with it."

He said that the advantages of the laser treatment were manifold:

Safe treatment with optimum results.

No general anesthesia.

No hospital stay.

Fast recovery.

More women can be treated in a shorter time span.

Longer stay hospital beds can be used for other patients.

The new treatment is much cheaper than a major operation.

Mr Samtaney has worked with laser treatments to cure heavy bleeding before but until recently a general anaesthetic was still necessary to deal with the problem. Just before Christmas last year the hospital, in Steeton, near Keighley, invested £25,000 on equipment pioneered in Belgium which has revolutionised the procedure.

The team at Airedale began by treating 25 patients, the vast majority of whom have gone back months later 'absolutely happy' with the results.

Airedale is now the only centre in the county offering the treatment and Mr Samtaney said more patients would be welcome. He said that those who were very nervous about the procedure could be sedated if they wished.

Mr Samtaney said: "I think what will happen in the next few years is that women will not have to go through hysterectomy.

"It is a major operation and takes months out of a woman's life. Women would rather put up with the problem than go through with it.

"This is a be a new way of treatment and less invasive. There is no cut or anything. It is better patient care and we can treat more women."

He said that the clinic at Airedale could treat five or six patients a week, many more than could be treated with major surgery.

He said: "We need to educate women that they don't need to go through a major operation. They can just walk in and get this done. In this day and age people should not have to go through a major operation to solve a problem."

Women with menorrhagia, as well as others who want to reduce or eliminate menstruation, can use the procedure.

Footnote: The Airedale Trust states that this treatment is still at the trial stage and is only available at present to selected patients. Readers are asked not to ring the hospital about it.