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Aquablation Therapy
Aquablation therapy is an advanced, minimally invasive treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), more commonly known as an enlarged prostate. It is the only real-time, ultrasound-guided, robotic-assisted, heat-free waterjet procedure designed to precisely remove excess prostate tissue. Learn more about this surgical treatment and how to schedule an appointment with one of our skilled urologists.
Aquablation Therapy Delivered by the HYDROS™ Robotic System for BPH
At Anderson Hospital in Maryville, Illinois, in partnership with Helios Specialty Care, our urology team is proud to offer this innovative treatment to help men throughout the Metro East and St. Louis region find lasting relief from enlarged prostate symptoms. The HYDROS™ Robotic System is designed to deliver an accurate and consistent treatment plan, helping improve symptoms and support better clinical outcomes.
83%
of men with BPH are not willing to sacrifice sexual function for symptom relief with surgery
3 in 4
men with BPH feel that surgery requires a tradeoff between symptom relief and side effects
1 in 2
men with BPH did not realize how important maintaining sexual function was to them before surgery
See how men regain quality of life by choosing Aquablation therapy for enlarged prostate (BPH) relief. Watch Howard’s BPH journey through his testimonial video.
How Does Aquablation Therapy Work?
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 accessed through the urethra. You will be under anesthesia for the entire procedure, which typically takes an hour and may involve an overnight stay. Treatment is carried out in two carefully coordinated phases.
Phase 1: A Surgical Plan Built Around You
Every prostate is unique in size and shape, and the way BPH affects it, which is why Aquablation therapy starts with a fully personalized surgical plan designed around your unique anatomy.
Using advanced ultrasound imaging and digital cystoscopy, your surgeon creates a precise surgical map of your prostate. This allows them to identify which tissue to remove, and just as importantly, which areas to avoid, to help reduce the risk of complications such as incontinence or sexual side effects.
Phase 2: Precise, Robotic-Assisted Prostate Tissue Removal
Once your surgeon has created a surgical map, a robotic-assisted heat-free waterjet removes the targeted prostate tissue. This advanced technology helps ensure precise, consistent, and predictable tissue removal. When necessary, your surgeon may use minimal cautery following an Aquablation procedure to control bleeding.
What Are the Side Effects of Aquablation Therapy?
We understand that fear of side effects emerging is one of the biggest reasons men put off treating their BPH. Research shows that 85% of men worry surgery will lead to incontinence, and 4 out of 5 are concerned about the lasting impact on their sexual function. These concerns are valid and an important part of the treatment conversation.
Aquablation therapy was designed with exactly these concerns in mind. In clinical studies, patients experienced very low rates of complications that men fear most:
100% of patients were free from new-onset erectile dysfunction
89% of men with BPH preserve ejaculatory function with Aquablation therapy
>99% of men with BPH did not have incontinence after Aquablation therapy
Is Aquablation Therapy Right for You?
Aquablation therapy offers a different approach to treating an enlarged prostate (BPH). A consultation with our urology team at Anderson Hospital can help determine if it’s the right option for you.
Take the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) Quiz to measure how severe your symptoms are.
Take the Sexual Function Quiz to help determine if maintaining sexual function after BPH surgery is important to you.
Benefits of Aquablation Therapy
Aquablation therapy has a very low rate of irreversible complications, including incontinence, ejaculatory dysfunction, and 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 also the only procedure that uses a heat-free waterjet to remove the 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. At Anderson Hospital with Helios Specialty Care, we are proud to offer this advanced, minimally invasive procedure. The HYDROS™ Robotic System is designed to deliver an accurate and consistent treatment plan for better clinical and patient outcomes.
Aquablation therapy uses a robotically controlled waterjet to remove tissue with precision and consistency, reducing variability in treatment.
Clinical studies show Aquablation therapy provides long-term symptom relief at 5 years.
When compared with transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), Aquablation therapy demonstrated similar symptom relief, lower complication rate, and fewer retreatments.
Aquablation therapy patients, on average, experienced a 16-point improvement in International Prostate Symptom Score, a 3.3-point improvement in quality of life, and a 2x improvement in urinary flow rate.
Recovery After Aquablation Therapy
After the procedure, most patients will temporarily have a catheter to help with urination while the urethra heals. The procedure may involve an overnight stay in the hospital. The benefit of Aquablation therapy is that most patients end up leaving the hospital without a catheter. During recovery, you may experience mild symptoms, such as a mild burning sensation and urinary urgency, a sudden and intense need to urinate that is difficult to hold off. These are typically temporary and can be managed with mild pain medication. Most patients can resume their normal activities once cleared by their doctor. Please refer to the discharge instructions provided by your surgeon.
For more information, visit: https://aquablation.com/safety-information/.
Meet Our Urologists
Schedule a Consultation with Our Urologists
If you’re experiencing symptoms of an enlarged prostate, Aquablation therapy may be an effective treatment option. Call 618.288.0900 to schedule a consultation with a urology specialist at Anderson Hospital.