Aquablation: AI-powered robotic system uses water jets to treat BPH
More than 40 million American men will be affected by benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), commonly known as an enlarged prostate, during their lifetime. Chances are pretty good that it will affect someone in your family.
BPH is a noncancerous enlargement of the prostate gland and is the most common benign tumor among men.
BPH causes problems by interfering with the flow of urine through the urethra, making it difficult to fully empty the bladder. If left untreated, BPH can cause severe health issues including urinary tract infections, incontinence, development of bladder or kidney stones and even permanent damage to the bladder and kidneys.
Now, there’s a new way to treat it with a recently developed artificial intelligence-powered robotic system that uses water jets.
BPH develops when specific prostate cells situated around the part of the urethra that travels through the prostate become enlarged. This can be caused by a number of factors including age, hormones, inflammation, or even obesity. Statistics show around 25% of men will develop symptoms from the condition in their lifetime.
“The most common symptoms of BPH include weak urine stream, straining to empty, taking a long time to start the urine stream, having to void frequently, having the sudden urge to void or feeling that the bladder is not empty after voiding,” explains Dr. Goutham Vemana, chair of Allegheny Health Network (AHN) Urology. “A smaller percentage of men can develop the inability to void, chronic incomplete bladder emptying that can increase the risk of bladder infections, stones or even damage to the kidneys due to back pressure.”
Until recently, surgery was the only option for treatment. The standard treatment for men with advanced BPH still includes surgical options such as transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), greenlight photo selective vaporization of the prostate (PVP), or simple prostatectomy. Newer, less invasive alternatives have been developed including surgical clips to lift and retract prostate tissue. Vemana says all are effective treatment options but can still carry either the risk of post-surgical side effects or compromised benefit.
Now, a minimally invasive treatment option is available in Southwestern Pennsylvania. A technique called Aquablation can be used for patients with moderate to severe symptoms of an enlarged prostate. Utilizing robotic-assisted, heat-free waterjet technology, it allows for a personalized approach that precisely targets and removes problematic prostate tissue, offering patients a safe and effective treatment option.
Aquablation has been clinically proven to provide significant, long-lasting BPH symptom relief while preserving sexual function and continence.
Like the name implies, Aquablation uses water to reduce prostate tissue. Surgeons use a high pressure, heat-free water jet with precise direction to destroy enlarged tissue.
“This technology works by the use of water jets at high pressure (around 8000 psi) to selectively remove obstructing prostatic tissue,” said Vemana. “This technology uses ultrasound as well as direct visual guidance to help identify a treatment plan that is tailored to a patient’s prostatic anatomy.”
Surgeons use artificial intelligence to help map the prostate by interpreting a real-time ultrasound of a patient’s prostate. That helps surgeons develop an optimal treatment plan that’s the least invasive.
AHN is the first health-care system in Western Pennsylvania to offer Aquablation, and Vemana says patients undergoing the therapy tend to recover more quickly and are less likely to experience side effects, such as urinary incontinence and sexual dysfunction, which are often associated with more invasive treatment options. The new treatment is not for every patient, but Vemana says it is a good option for men who have moderate to severe symptoms related to an enlarged prostate.
“This technology can be used for a wide range of prostate sizes,” he says. “Studies assessing the outcomes for Aquablation have demonstrated significant improvement with regards to improvement in urine flow, excellent patient reported outcomes and minimal sexually related side effects.”