Aquablation Therapy for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH)
Saint Vincent Hospital is proud to offer aquablation therapy, a new advanced, minimally invasive surgical treatment for lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Saint Vincent Hospital was the first hospital in Central Massachusetts to offer aquablation therapy.
What Is Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia?
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) or an enlarged prostate, is a noncancerous condition where the prostate grows larger than average. The condition, common in men over the age of 50, occurs when the cells of the prostate gland begin to multiply. These extra cells cause the prostate gland to swell, which squeezes the urethra and limits urine flow. BPH is not the same as cancer and doesn’t increase cancer risk. It can, however, cause symptoms that can affect your quality of life.
If left untreated, BPH can cause significant health problems, including irreversible bladder or kidney damage, bladder stones and incontinence.
What Is Aquablation Therapy?
Aquablation therapy is an advanced, minimally invasive treatment for BPH that uses the power of water delivered with robotic precision to provide best-in-class and long-lasting symptom relief with low rates of irreversible complications, regardless of prostate size or shape.
Potential Benefits of Aquablation Therapy May Include the Following:
- A more minimally invasive approach than other robotic-assisted surgeries
- Can treat an extensive range of prostate sizes and shapes for BPH
- No incisions needed with access to the prostate through the urethra
- Minimal sexual side effects. Less erectile dysfunctions and a higher rate of continence preservation and ejaculatory functioning
- Catheter time is one to three days following surgery
- Less anesthesia time for the patient
- Procedure is less than 40 minutes, with an actual average resection time of fewer than 10 minutes
The AquaBeam® Robotic System
At Saint Vincent Hospital, aquablation therapy is performed with The AquaBeam® Robotic System (also termed waterjet ablation), designed for the resection (cutting out) and removal of prostate tissue in males suffering from LUTS due to benign prostatic hyperplasia. The AquaBeam® Robotic System is the first FDA-cleared surgical robot utilizing automated tissue resection to treat LUTS due to BPH.
Through the assistance of a robot, the surgeon maps the exact treatment contour and then monitors as the robot executes the treatment plan, guiding a precisely calibrated heat-free waterjet with speed and accuracy. The waterjet, pulsating near the speed of sound, removes prostatic tissue. Aquablation therapy offers predictable and reproducible outcomes, independent of prostate anatomy, size or surgeon experience.
In clinical studies, aquablation therapy has been shown to provide both best-in-class and durable symptom relief with low rates of irreversible complications.
As with any medical procedure, your doctor will determine if you qualify as a candidate for aquablation therapy.
