Non-Invasive Solutions for BPH (Enlarged Prostate)
What is benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)? Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common urological condition that
affects half of men between the ages of 50 and 61. BPH is a non-cancerous
condition where the prostate gland becomes enlarged and constricts the
bladder and urethra.
Symptoms of PBH can include:
Discomfort while urinating
Incontinence (inability to urinate)
Weak urine stream
Dribbling
Frequent urination
Straining to urinate
These and other side effects can severely impact your quality of life and
affect your bladder and kidney function over time.
Treating BPH: In many cases, BPH can be treated for long periods of time using medication
therapy. These medications can help address continued growth of the prostate
and/or common symptoms of BPH.
However, medication therapy may only offer temporary relief to patients
with BPH. For patients whose side effects can’t be addressed by
medication or who experience adverse effects from the medication itself,
surgery may be the next best way to treat BPH.
How Robotic Aquablation Works: Robotic aquablation is a non-invasive surgical treatment that removes prostate
tissue around the urethra and bladder using saline solution.
The urologist-controlled robotic surgery system accesses the prostate via
the urethra, and the planning software maps out the prostate using ultrasounds
and cystoscope camera technologies. Once the digital map is complete,
a waterjet filled with unheated saline solution carves away the unwanted
tissue within the prostate and flushes it out of the body.
Benefits of Robotic Aquablation
Shorter Recovery Time: Because robotic aquablation uses a natural orifice (the urethra) instead
of an incision to access the prostate, patients can expect less downtime
after surgery than with other procedures.
Robotic Precision and Accuracy: The robotic aquablation process begins by using traditional cystoscope
(camera scope) and ultrasound technologies to fully map the prostate tissue
before surgery begins. This allows the urologist to plan which areas of
tissue to avoid and which to remove, providing a new level of precision
when reducing enlarged prostates.
Protects Continence and Sexual Function: Unlike other prostate resection surgeries, robotic aquablation uses an
unheated saline solution to flush the excess tissue out of the body. Many
patients look to avoid surgery because traditional procedures carry a
higher risk of irreversible side effects. Not using heat on prostate tissue
prevents nerve damage and potential sexual dysfunction.
Suited for Any Size Prostate: Combining state-of-the-art imaging technology, robotics and a unique waterjet
system allows Shannon urologists to treat any size of enlarged prostate
with robotic aquablation. This procedure minimizes the human error usually
associated with prostate surgery, meaning most patients can receive safe,
long-term treatment for their BPH symptoms.
Recovering from Robotic Aquablation Surgery
Patients usually spend one night in the hospital and return home without
a catheter, and their BPH symptoms can start to improve within four to
six weeks of treatment. Aquablation is designed to provide more long-term
relief and more durable results when compared to other more invasive kinds
of prostate surgery.
Keeping Urology Care Local
Facing urological conditions can be daunting and embarrassing, and many
patients avoid addressing BPH until the symptoms are too drastic to ignore.
Robotic aquablation offers a safe, long-term solution to BPH for patients
whose symptoms impact their daily life.
Shannon Urology remains committed to offering new and innovative treatments
for men’s healthcare in the Concho Valley and beyond, which is why
every urologist at Shannon is qualified to perform robotic aquablation.
Contact your primary care provider if you have any concerns regarding urological
conditions like benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).
For more information about robotic aquablation and other urological services,
contact Shannon Urology at
325-747-2231.
How Robotic Aquablation Works:
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