Robotic Aquablation
Aquablation Therapy: Surgical Treatment for BPH (enlarged prostate) at Pazona MD Urology in Nashville
Aquablation therapy is a new type of surgical treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). At Pazona MD Urology, we are proud to be among the first in the Nashville area to offer this advanced, minimally invasive treatment.
We are excited to offer Aquablation therapy at Pazona MD Urology, because we believe in helping men suffering from BPH to get their life back and feel like themselves again.
We know 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, or choosing a treatment that only provides limited relief, that may have a long recovery time, or that may even cause issues with sexual function.
Aquablation therapy is a one-of-a-kind procedure that aims to minimize this compromise.
"With Aquablation therapy, we no longer need to compromise the best results for fewer side effects. Now patients can have it all. BPH symptom relief without sexual or urinary side effects." - Dr. Joe Pazona
What is Aquablation Therapy?
Aquablation therapy uses the power of water delivered with robotic precision to provide long-lasting BPH relief without compromise. It is precise, consistent, and predictable, and provides long-term relief no matter how large your prostate.
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 reached through the urethra.
Aquablation therapy is performed in a hospital and is done under anesthesia. The procedure typically takes less than an hour and involves an overnight stay.
There are two key steps to the Aquablation procedure:
Step 1. Creating a Surgical Map
Every prostate is unique in size and shape. Aquablation therapy enables our surgeons at Pazona MD Urology in Nashville to customize your procedure to your specific anatomy.
How? Aquablation therapy is the only BPH surgical procedure integrates ultrasound imaging with the standard camera (called a cystoscope). This gives our surgeons at Pazona MD Urology in Nashville the ability to see the entire prostate in real time, which allows our surgeons to map which parts of your prostate they want to remove and which parts they want to avoid.
Specifically, this mapping enables our surgeons at Pazona MD Urology in Nashville to avoid removing the parts of the prostate that cause irreversible complications like erectile dysfunction, ejaculatory dysfunction, and incontinence.
Step 2. Removing the Prostate Tissue
Once our surgeons at Pazona MD Urology in Nashville have created a surgical map, a robotically- controlled, heat-free waterjet removes the prostate tissue that was outlined on the map. Thisrobotic technology minimizes human error in removing prostate tissue, and ensures the prostate tissue is removed precisely, consistently, and predictably.
When required, our surgeons may choose to use a minimal amount of cautery following an Aquablation procedure to control bleeding.
What are the side effects of Aquablation therapy?
We know that the primary reason men are delaying surgery is because they are concerned about side effects.1 In fact, a recent survey shows that 85% of men are concerned that surgery will cause incontinence, and 4 out of 5 men are concerned that surgery will have a permanent impact on their sexual function.1
In clinical studies, men who had Aquablation therapy had a very low rate of irreversible complications—incontinence, ejaculatory dysfunction, erectile dysfunction. 2,3
Is Aquablation therapy at Pazona MD Urology in Nashville right for you?
Aquablation therapy is a different kind of surgical procedure. There are three reasons it may be right for you, but make sure to discuss with our surgeons Pazona MD Urology in Nashville to see if you’re a candidate.
1. Low Rates of Irreversible Complications
Aquablation therapy has a very low rates of irreversible complications (incontinence, ejaculatory dysfunction, erectile dysfunction) 2,3,4 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 the only procedure that uses a heat-free waterjet to remove 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.
2. Confidence in Procedure
Aquablation therapy removes prostate tissue with a robotically-controlled waterjet. This robotic technology minimizes human error and ensures the prostate tissue is removed precisely, consistently, and predictably.
3. Long-Term Relief
In clinical studies, Aquablation therapy has been shown to provide durable symptom relief. 2
Take the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) Quiz to measure how severe your symptoms are.
Take the Sexual Function Quiz to help you determine if maintaining sexual function after BPH surgery is important to you.
Aquablation Recovery
As with most BPH procedures, you will wake up with a catheter. Patients typically stay overnight in the hospital. We may send you home with a catheter for a few days or may keep you an additional night in the hospital if you are unable to pee on your own or empty your
bladder at the time of discharge.
We know that no one likes staying overnight in a hospital. However, the benefit with Aquablation therapy is that most patients end up having an uneventful recovery with few surprises. The catheter will usually be removed within a few days in our office. Once you the catheter is removed, you may experience mild burning during urination for a couple of weeks. This can be managed with mild pain medication.
For more information, visit aquablation.com/safety-information.
Why Should You Consider Aquablation for BPH with Pazona MD Urology in Nashville?
- Shorter recovery time compared to other prostate surgeries.
- Alleviates BPH symptoms, such as urgency and frequency, which impact quality of life.
- Restores adequate urine flow.
- It is a customizable procedure based on your specific prostate structure.
- Robotics allows for precise treatment.
- Allows men to retain their sexual function.
- Results may last up to 10+ years
For more information, call us at 615-527-4700. At Pazona MD Urology in Nashville we are ready to partner with you to put your BPH concerns in the past.
Call today and schedule your appointment. You’ll soon join the other 1000+ patients who’ve had a 5-star experience at Pazona MD Urology in Nashville.
REFERENCES
- Data from a global survey of 300 patients with BPH. Data on file at PROCEPT BioRobotics.
- Gilling, P, et al. Three-Year Outcomes after Aquablation Therapy Compared to TURP: Results
from a Blinded Randomized Trial. Can J Urol. 2020 Feb;27(1):10072-10079. - 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a robotic aquablation require anesthesia and a hospital stay? add
Yes. Typically this is performed under general anesthesia. At Pazona MD Urology we perform the procedure at TriStar Centennial Hospital in Nashville, TN. You will spend one night in the hospital to receive bladder irrigation. This prevents blood clots from forming which can block your catheter from draining urine.
Will I go home with a catheter? add
Yes. A urinary catheter is left in place for 3-7 days to minimize bleeding and trips to the ER. We will remove it in one of our 3 offices.
When should I consider treatments beyond medication for BPH? add
Maximal medication therapy will fail 1 out of 3 men by five years. This means that symptoms will continue to progress despite using medications. This does not include men who suffer with medication side effects. If you’re tired of taking a BPH medication, because it doesn’t work or the side effects or bothersome, then you should consider surgery for BPH.
Will I have pain after robotic aquablation surgery? add
One of the amazing things about aquablation therapy is that patients experience little to no pain. Certainly some men are bothered by the urinary catheter that’s left in place for a few days. Outside of the catheter, it’s a relatively painless procedure.
How long does it take to recover from aquablation therapy? add
The main restriction is to not lift more than 10 pounds in each arm for two weeks. This is to minimize the risk of bleeding as the prostate heals. You can go to work, drive if you’re pain-free and perform most day-to-day activities. Sexual activity should be avoided for 2-4 weeks due to discomfort.
How do I choose between a Urolift, a robotic aquablation, or one of the other BPH surgeries? add
There are over ten BPH surgeries currently being performed by urologists. This should tell you that no one option is the best for all patients. That’s why at Pazona MD Urology we are here to guide you to the best choice for you. Urolift can be done as an outpatient without a catheter, but you compromise on the results. Aquablation requires an overnight stay in the hospital with a catheter, but you will have better long-lasting results.
When is robotic aquablation preferred for BPH? add
Aquablation therapy may be the better option for you if:
- Your BPH symptoms are moderate to severe
- You can no longer urinate on your own and have to use a catheter
- Your prostate is very enlarged (>100 g).
- You are experiencing other complications of BPH, including kidney failure, infections, bleeding and stones.
