AQUABLATION THERAPY
AQUABLATION THERAPY, BPH TREATMENT WITHOUT COMPROMISE.
Aquablation therapy is a NICE approved, clinically advanced and minimally invasive treatment for enlarged prostate (BPH). It uses the precision of robotic technology and the power of water to provide long-lasting relief of BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia) symptoms.
Aquablation therapy is the only BPH treatment that offers a very low risk of the side-effects commonly associated with other BPH treatments, such as loss of sexual function and incontinence.
Aquablation therapy allows men to get their freedom back, and live life to the full. Without compromise.
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What is Aquablation Therapy?
Aquablation therapy is a safe and effective treatment for men suffering from lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) due to BPH. It can be performed on prostates of any size and shape.
Aquablation therapy is a resective procedure, which means that the prostate tissue causing symptoms is removed. No incision is made, as the prostate is reached through the urethra.
New Treatment for BPH
Aquablation therapy is a one-of-a-kind procedure. It is the only procedure that uses a heat-free waterjet controlled by robotic technology to precisely remove prostate tissue.
In addition, it is the only procedure that combines a camera (called a cystoscope) with ultrasound imaging, giving the surgeon the ability to see the entire prostate in real time. As a result, Aquablation therapy is precise, consistent, and predictable, and provides long-term relief no matter how large your prostate is.1,2
Clinical studies have shown that, men who had Aquablation therapy had a very low rate of irreversible complications—incontinence, ejaculatory dysfunction, erectile dysfunction.1,2
“The fact that Aquablation therapy is minimally-invasive and is a robotic procedure gave me a high degree of confidence.”
AQUABLATION THERAPY: THE PROCEDURE
Aquablation therapy is a robotic procedure that removes prostate tissue using the power of a water jet. The treatment is performed in a hospital and is done under anaesthesia. It typically takes less than an hour and can sometimes be done as a day case, and sometimes involves an overnight stay.
There are two key steps to the procedure:
Side view (sagittal view) of prostate on ultrasound imaging during Aquablation therapy
In this video, the surgeon is creating a surgical map of the parts of the prostate to remove and the parts to avoid.
Step 1. Creating a surgical map
Every prostate is unique in size and shape, so it is important for a surgeon to customise surgery to a patient’s specific anatomy.
Aquablation therapy is the only procedure that combines a camera (called a cystoscope) with ultrasound imaging, giving a surgeon the ability to see the entire prostate in real time.
Other surgical procedures for BPH use only a camera, which limits a surgeon’s ability to see.
The addition of ultrasound imaging in Aquablation therapy allows a surgeon to create a surgical map. The map enables them to avoid the parts of the prostate that might cause irreversible complications, such as erectile dysfunction, ejaculatory dysfunction, and incontinence.
Step 2. Removing the prostate tissue
With a surgical plan in place, a robotically controlled, heat-free waterjet removes the prostate tissue that has been mapped out. This robotic technology minimises the potential for human error when removing prostate tissue and ensures the prostate tissue is removed precisely, consistently, and predictably.
Some surgeons may opt to employ a minimal level of heat application (cauterisation) to manage any bleeding.
Robotically controlled, heat free waterjet removes prostate tissue during Aquablation therapy
“There were two things that led me to choose Aquablation therapy. First, the lack of heat was key, as I knew heat was associated with undesirable side effects. And second, pairing the skill of my urologist with robotics ensured that the precision necessary for this procedure was there.”
Why choose Aquablation therapy
There are numerous surgical treatment options for BPH. Aquablation therapy is a different kind of surgical procedure, and there are three reasons it may be right for you.
1. Low Rates of Irreversible Complications
Aquablation therapy has been shown in studies to have superior outcomes to traditional surgical treatments, such as the more commonly used TURP (transurethral resection of the prostate), with a very low rate of irreversible complications (incontinence, ejaculatory dysfunction, erectile dysfunction). across prostates of all sizes and shapes1,2.
In clinical studies patients receiving Aquablation therapy have seen immediate and sustained improvements:
- 10/10 men preserved continence.
- 9/10 men preserved ejaculation.
- 10/10 men preserved erections.
2. Heat Free, Robotic Precision
Robotic Accuracy
Aquablation therapy is the only procedure that removes prostate tissue with a robotically controlled waterjet. This robotic technology minimises human error in removing prostate tissue and ensures the prostate tissue is removed precisely, consistently and predictably.
Ultrasound imaging allows for more control
Aquablation therapy is the only procedure that uses a camera (cystoscope) in combination with ultrasound imaging to view the prostate. This enables a surgeon to see the entire prostate so they can create a surgical map to identify which areas of the prostate to remove and those to avoid.
In every other available surgical procedure for BPH, the surgeon’s view of the prostate is limited to a single camera (cystoscope). This limits the surgeon’s ability to see the parts of the prostate that control erectile function, ejaculatory function, and incontinence.
Heat-free Waterjet Technology
Aquablation therapy is the only procedure that uses a heat-free waterjet to remove prostate tissue. Most resective procedures utilise heat to remove prostate tissue, and heat may be damaging to the parts of the prostate that control erectile function and ejaculatory function. In clinical studies, men who had Aquablation therapy had a very low rate of irreversible complications such as incontinence, ejaculatory dysfunction and erectile dysfunction1,2
3. Long-Term Symptom Relief
In clinical studies, Aquablation therapy has been shown to provide long-term relief of the symptoms associated with BPH at five years.1
Aquablation Therapy Proven Results
“Aquablation therapy was the surgery that fixed me. It’s minimally invasive, and it uses water to create the opening needed in your urethra. During the recovery time, as my body healed, I could tell everything was fine. I knew right away that it was working.”
Aquablation Therapy Recovery
As with most BPH procedures, the patient will wake up with a catheter, which allows them to urinate while they heal.
In some cases, patients remain in the hospital overnight, but sometimes they can be discharged the same day. The doctor will remove the catheter before discharge and ask the patient to urinate on their own. If they cannot empty their bladder, the doctor may or may not keep the patient in for an additional night in hospital.
While no one likes staying overnight in a hospital, the benefit with Aquablation Therapy is that most patients end up leaving the hospital without a catheter.1,2,3.
Once home, patients may experience mild burning during urination for a couple of weeks. This can be managed with mild pain medication. Patients can resume their normal activities once approved by their doctor.
FAQ
Yes, Aquablation therapy has been recommended by NICE (the National Institute for Clinical Excellence) for patients with BPH. Aquablation therapy is also the first surgical robotics system to receive a MedTech Innovation Briefing (MIB) by NICE. NICE recognised Aquablation therapy is as effective as transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) for the removal of prostate tissue for men with BPH. As part of the briefing a panel of clinical experts stated the technology is innovative compared to the standard of care and offers additional benefits, such as increased ability to preserve sexual function.
NICE is a highly respected authority in the UK and patients can be assured that Aquablation therapy has undergone rigorous evaluation and met the standards set by NICE in terms of clinical effectiveness and value for money.
Aquablation therapy has been shown in studies to have superior outcomes to traditional surgical treatments, such as the more commonly used TURP (transurethral resection of the prostate). The procedure has a very low rate of irreversible complications (incontinence, ejaculatory dysfunction, erectile dysfunction). across prostates of all sizes and shapes.
In clinical studies patients receiving Aquablation therapy have seen immediate and sustained improvements1,2,3:
- 10/10 men preserved continence
- 10/10 men preserved erections
- 9/10 men preserved ejaculation
Links
NICE MIB For Aquablation therapy
NICE IPG For Aquablation therapy
NICE approval helps validate to both healthcare professionals and patients that the treatment is supported by evidence and deemed suitable for use in the UK healthcare system.
As emerging data studies demonstrate that Aquablation therapy provides excellent long-term symptom relief while also preserving sexual function, it is rapidly being adopted by NHS Trusts and private providers across the UK, and the number of consultants trained to deliver Aquablation therapy is increasing all the time
References
- 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 Feb;29(1):10960-10968.
- Bhojani, N, et al. Aquablation for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia in Large Prostates (80-150 cc): 1-Year Results. Urology. 2019 Jul;129:1-7.
- Data on file at PROCEPT BioRobotics.
All surgical treatments have inherent and associated side effects. Individual’s outcomes may depend on a number of factors, including but not limited to patient characteristics, disease characteristics and/or surgeon experience. 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. Further, there may be other risks as in other urological surgery, such as anesthesia risk or the risk of infection, including the potential transmission of blood borne pathogens. For more information about potential side effects and risks associated with Aquablation therapy for Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) treatment, speak with your urologist or surgeon. Prior to using our products, please review the Instructions for Use, Operator’s Manual or User Manual, as applicable, and any accompanying documentation for a complete listing of indications, contraindications, warnings, precautions and potential adverse events. No claim is made that the AquaBeam Robotic System will cure any medical condition, or entirely eliminate the diseased entity. Repeated treatment or alternative therapies may sometimes be required.
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