Aquablation

How does Aquablation therapy work?

Aquablation therapy surgically removes the excess prostate tissue that causes symptoms. The procedure is performed through the urethra, so no incision is made in the abdomen. Aquablation is performed in a hospital where patients are under anesthesia for the entire procedure. The procedure typically takes an hour.

Step 1. Surgical Planning

Every prostate is unique in size and shape. Aquablation therapy enables the surgeon to customize your procedure to your specific anatomy. How? Aquablation therapy is the only BPH surgical procedure that combines next-generation ultrasound imaging and digital cystoscopy. With the help of ultrasound imaging, the surgeon can create a detailed guide to plan the procedure, outlining the critical anatomy, and suggest an optimal treatment plan. The tissue within the marked area of the prostate may be removed, while the tissue outside of it may remain untouched. This real-time visualization allows the surgeon to map which parts of your prostate to remove and which parts to avoid. This helps avoid removing areas that could cause irreversible complications like erectile dysfunction, ejaculatory dysfunction, and incontinence.

Step 2. Prostate Tissue Removal

Once the surgeon has created a surgical map, a robotic-assisted, heat-free waterjet follows the surgeon-defined treatment plan and resects the obstructive tissue. This advanced technology helps ensure precise, consistent, and predictable removal of the tissue across a wide range of prostate sizes and shapes. When required, the surgeon may use a minimal amount of cautery following an Aquablation therapy procedure to control bleeding.

What are the side effects of Aquablation therapy?

The primary reason men are delaying surgical treatment is because they are concerned about side effects. In fact, a recent survey shows that 85% of men are concerned that surgery will cause incontinence, and 4 out of 5 men are concerned that surgery will have a permanent impact on their sexual function.

In clinical studies, men who had Aquablation therapy had a very low rate of irreversible complications, such as incontinence, ejaculatory dysfunction, erectile dysfunction.

Is Aquablation therapy right for you?

• Low Rates of Complications. Aquablation therapy is the only procedure that gives surgeons the ability to view the entire prostate to avoid parts of the prostate that cause irreversible complications. It is the only procedure that uses heat-free waterjet to remove prostate tissue. Technologies that use heat to remove prostate tissue may be damaging to parts of the prostate that control erectile function.
• Confidence in the Procedure. Aquablation therapy is the only procedure that resects prostate tissue with a robotically controlled waterjet, designed to minimize human error.
• Long-Term Relief. In clinical studies, Aquablation therapy has been shown to provide long-term relief at 5 years.
• Exceptional results vs TURP. When compared with transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), Aquablation therapy showed similar symptom relief with lower complication rates and fewer retreatments.
• Exceptional efficacy. Aquablation therapy patients on average experienced:
  • 16-point improvement in International Prostate Symptom Score
  • 3.3-point improvement in quality of life
  • 2x improvement in urinary flow rate

Talk with your primary care provider or urologist to see if Aquablation therapy is right for you.