Urology

Aquablation therapy is the only real-time, ultrasound-guided, robotic-assisted heat-free waterjet for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). At UT Health East Texas, we are proud to be the first in the region to offer this advanced, minimally invasive treatment. The HYDROS™ Robotic System is designed to deliver an accurate and consistent treatment plan for better clinical outcomes.

Aquablation therapy is a resective procedure, which means that the prostate tissue causing symptoms is surgically removed. No incision is made in the abdomen, as the prostate is reached through the urethra. Aquablation therapy is performed in a hospital and is done under anesthesia. The procedure typically takes less than an hour and involves an overnight stay.

How does the procedure work?

There are two key steps to the Aquablation procedure:

Step 1: Surgical planning

Every prostate is unique in size and shape, and Aquablation therapy is the only surgical procedure for BPH that combines next-generation ultrasound imaging with digital cystoscopy (a procedure that uses a small camera to examine the bladder and urethra). With the help of ultrasound imaging, our surgeons can create a detailed guide to plan the procedure, outlining the critical anatomy and suggest an optimal treatment plan for each patient. 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 your surgeon to map which parts of your prostate to remove and which parts to avoid, specifically enabling them to avoid removing areas that could cause irreversible complications like erectile dysfunction, ejaculatory dysfunction and incontinence.

Step 2: Prostate tissue removal

Once your 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, your surgeon may use a minimal amount of cautery following an Aquablation therapy procedure to control bleeding.

Side effects of aquablation therapy

We know that the primary reason men are delaying surgery 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 four out of five 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 or erectile dysfunction.

Post-surgical recovery

As with most benign prostatic hyperplasia procedures, you will wake up with a catheter following Aquablation therapy, which allows you to urinate while your urethra heals. The procedure may involve an overnight stay in the hospital.

The benefit with Aquablation therapy is that most patients end up leaving the hospital without a catheter. Once you’re home, you may notice for several weeks a mild burning sensation and urinary urgency, a sudden and intense need to urinate that is difficult to hold off. This can be managed with mild pain medication. Patients can resume their normal activities once approved by their doctor.

Is aquablation right for you?

Aquablation therapy has a very low rate of irreversible complications (incontinence, ejaculatory dysfunction or erectile dysfunction) because:

• It is the only procedure that gives surgeons the ability to view the entire prostate so they can create a map that avoids the parts of the prostate that cause irreversible complications.
• It is the only procedure that uses a heat-free waterjet to remove prostate tissue. Technologies that use heat to remove prostate tissue may be damaging to the parts of the prostate that control erectile function and ejaculatory function. It should be noted that surgeons may use a minimal amount of cautery following an Aquablation therapy procedure to control bleeding.

Aquablation therapy is the only procedure that resects prostate tissue with a robotically controlled waterjet, designed to minimize human error and ensure the prostate tissue is removed precisely, consistently and predictably.

In clinical studies, Aquablation therapy has also been shown to provide long-term relief at five years. Take the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) Quiz to measure how severe your symptoms are.