Aquablation Therapy Procedure Details
Review the helpful information below about the Aquablation Therapy Procedure.
Treating BPH Locally
We’re excited to share that McKenzie Health’s Urology Department now offers Aquablation therapy using the new HYDROS Robotic System.
Dr. Robert Bates and Dr. John Ludlow are leading the way with this advanced, AI-powered technology that helps treat men with an enlarged prostate, also known as benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).
HELPFUL DETAILS
IMPROVING MEN’S HEALTH
What is BPH?
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) is common in men over 50 and can seriously affect their health and quality of life. BPH, or an enlarged prostate, is a prostate that has grown to be larger than normal. BPH is not prostate cancer. As the prostate grows, it may constrict the urethra, making it difficult to urinate and/or apply pressure on the bladder, causing it to weaken and have difficulty emptying.
BPH may cause two kinds of symptoms that can impact your quality of life. Ability to hold urine – causing you to search for bathrooms throughout the day or to wake up several times a night. Emptying your bladder – causing you to push or strain when urinating or to have a weak stream that starts and stops. If BPH symptoms are left untreated, bladder and kidney function may be impacted over time. Additionally, using medications for a long time to manage BPH symptoms or has been shown to increase risk of heart failure and dementia.
Treatment Options
There are different ways to treat BPH – medication, minimally invasive procedures, and surgery. Choosing a treatment option can be overwhelming, as it often forces men to compromise in some way. This could mean not responding well to medication, getting limited relief, having a long recovery time, or even having issues with sexual function.
Aquablation therapy is the first and only robotic-assisted, ultrasound-guided, heat-free waterjet treatment for BPH. By combining real-time ultrasound guidance with cystoscopy, the system offers a multi-dimensional view of the prostate, allowing for personalized treatment tailored to each patient’s anatomy. The HYDROS Robotic System is the next-generation, AI-powered platform for Aquablation therapy. The system is designed to deliver an accurate and consistent treatment plan for better clinical outcomes.
AQUABLATION
PROCEDURE
Aquablation therapy is clinically proven to provide long-lasting relief from BPH symptoms while protecting sexual function and bladder control, no matter the size or shape of the prostate.
What makes Aquablation therapy unique?
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- Two kinds of imaging in the operating room allows your surgeon to see your entire prostate.
- Robotics and advanced computer software allows your surgeon to create a personalized treatment plan to precisely remove tissue.
- Heat-free waterjet allows your surgeon to safely remove tissue.
Aquablation therapy is clinically proven to provide long-term durable symptom relief while preserving sexual function and continence in prostates of all shapes and sizes.¹,²
McKenzie Health has
North Dakota’s First & Only Urology Department providing Aquablation Therapy
Resources
Schedule a consultation with Dr. Bates or Dr. Ludlow by calling 701-444-8840
Get the Self Survey
Download the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS)
After The Procedure
Safety and Risk Information
All surgical treatments have inherent and associated side effects. The most common side effects are mild and transient and may include mild pain or difficulty when urinating, discomfort in the pelvis, blood in the urine, inability to empty the bladder or a frequent and/or urgent need to urinate, and bladder or urinary tract infection. Other risks include ejaculatory dysfunction and a low risk of injury to the urethra or rectum where the devices gain access to the body for treatment.
For more information about the potential side effects and risks associated with Aquablation therapy for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) treatment, speak with your urologist or surgeon. No claim is made that the AquaBeam Robotic System will cure any medical condition, or entirely eliminate the diseased entity.
What to expect after Aquablation therapy
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. (resources 3, 4, 6)
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.
Repeated treatment or alternative therapies may sometimes be required.
Aquablation therapy is performed by urologists. Patients should talk to their doctor to determine if Aquablation therapy is right for them. Patients and doctors should review the potential benefits and limitations of treatment together.
From Dr. Bates and Dr. Ludlow
We want to emphasize if there are questions or concerns following the procedure, no question is unreasonable to ask.
One of us is always available, and we’ll get back to you. And if it’s something that we really need to see, we’ll make sure you get into the clinic as quickly as possible.
It’s a well researched and highly practiced procedure that gives life-changing relief.
References:
1. Gilling PJ et al. Five-year outcomes for Aquablation therapy compared to TURP: results from a double-blind, randomized trial in men with LUTS due to BPH. Can J Urol. 2022;29(1):10960-10968.
2. Bhojani et al. Aquablation therapy in large prostates (80-150 mL) for lower urinary tract symptoms due to benign prostatic hyperplasia: final WATER II 5-Year clinical trial results. 2023 Journal of Urology.
3. Gilling PJ, et al. Can J Urol. 2022.
4. Bhojani N, et al. J Urol. 2023.
5. Elterman D, et al. BMJ Surg Interv Health Technol. 2021.
6. Data on file at PROCEPT BioRobotics.