Aquablation BPH Therapy
Because of the virtually ubiquitous nature of BPH as men age, there is no shortage of new treatment options for the condition. One such new, buzzworthy treatment is Aquablation, which uses targeted water jets to destroy excess prostatic tissue and relieve symptoms.
Not only is Aquablation a unique method of managing BPH, but it is operated autonomously by a robot with the guidance of a surgeon. Once the urologist has provided all the measurements and parameters of tissue removal, the robot does the rest endoscopically, meaning that no incisions in the abdomen or the pelvis are needed.
Aquablation is a promising novel way of removing prostatic tissue. The autonomous robotic control makes it potentially more precise compared to a human performing a BPH procedure. Importantly, Aquablation does not cauterize prostate tissue, and as such, avoids significant risks associated with thermal injury, including retrograde ejaculation, urinary incontinence, and Erectile Dysfunction (ED). The risk of postoperative bleeding has also been reduced in newer randomized studies with the use of targeted cautery.
Patients will typically spend one night in the hospital for observation. In some cases, the small risk of bleeding often makes minimally invasive in-office procedures such as Rezum or Urolift a better option for patients with relatively smaller prostates.
However, Aquablation can be well-suited for patients with any prostate size ranging from 30 to greater than 80, 90, or even 100 grams. Recent studies have shown that the benefits and outcomes of an Aquablation may meet or exceed those of a TURP, simple prostatectomy, or HoLEP, a few of the gold-standard procedures commonly performed on patients with larger prostates.
Treating BPH on a Continuum
As with most conditions Dr. Kapadia treats, we believe in a progressive approach to care, employing the least invasive yet effective option available at any given time. When patients first experience the symptoms associated with BPH, they can often modify their lifestyles to work around them. Eventually, these symptoms become problematic enough that they seek therapy, which often begins with medication.
However, medication does not address the root cause of the prostatic enlargement, and we often consider minimally invasive treatments such as REZUM in the office or Urolift in the office or at an outpatient surgical center. If the patient has not received the benefit of these interventions, surgical options up to and including Aquablation can be considered. Of course, each patient’s experience will be different, so the treatment protocol will vary.
Most importantly, patients should not feel like they must live with the lower urinary tract symptoms associated with BPH, understanding that many treatment options are available for any stage of enlargement of the prostate. The first step is to get more information by making an appointment to see Dr. Kapadia.