Aquablation Therapy

Aquablation® Therapy

AQUABLATION THERAPY Delivered by the HYDROS™ Robotic System for BPH (enlarged prostate)

Aquablation therapy is the only real-time, ultrasound-guided, robotic-assisted, heat-free waterjet for the treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). At Meadville Medical Center, we are proud to offer this advanced, minimally invasive treatment. The HYDROS™ Robotic System is designed to deliver an accurate and consistent treatment plan for better clinical outcomes.
Shane Daugherty, DO performs Aquablation therapy at Meadville Medical Center.
Shane Daugherty, DO performs Aquablation therapy at Meadville Medical Center.
0 %
of men with BPH are not willing to sacrifice sexual function for symptom relief with surgery4
3 in 3
3 in 4
men with BPH feel that surgery requires a tradeoff between symptom relief and side effects4
1 in 1
1 in 2
men with BPH did not realize how important maintaining sexual function was to them before surgery4

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. You will be under anesthesia for the entire procedure. The procedure typically takes an hour and may involve an overnight stay.

There are two key steps to the Aquablation therapy procedure:

Step 1: Surgical Planning

Every prostate is unique in size and shape. Aquablation therapy enables Dr. Shane Daugherty to customize your procedure to your specific anatomy.

How? Aquablation therapy is the only BPH surgical procedure that combines next-generation ultrasound imaging and digital cystoscopy. With the help of ultrasound imaging, Dr. Daugherty can create a detailed guide to plan the procedure, outlining the critical anatomy and suggest an optimal treatment plan for each patient. The tissue within the marked area of the prostate may be removed, while the tissue outside of it may remain untouched. This real-time visualization allows Dr. Daugherty to map which parts of your prostate to remove and which parts to avoid, specifically enabling him to avoid removing areas that could cause irreversible complications like erectile dysfunction, ejaculatory dysfunction, and incontinence.

Step 2: Prostate Tissue Removal

Once Dr. Daugherty has created a surgical map, a robotic-assisted heat-free waterjet follows the surgeon-defined treatment plan and resects the obstructive tissue. This advanced technology helps ensure precise, consistent, and predictable removal of the tissue across a wide range of prostate sizes and shapes. When required, Dr. Daugherty may use a minimal amount of cautery following an Aquablation therapy 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.4 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.4

In clinical studies, men who had Aquablation therapy had a very low rate of irreversible complications, such as incontinence, ejaculatory dysfunction, erectile dysfunction.3

0 %
of patients were free from erectile dysfunction3
0 %
of men with BPH preserve ejaculatory function with Aquablation therapy1–4
> 0 %
men with BPH did not have incontinence after Aquablation therapy1–4

Is Aquablation Therapy right for you?

Aquablation therapy is a different kind of surgical procedure. There are many reasons it may be right for you, but make sure to discuss with Dr. Daugherty to see if you’re a candidate.

Low Rates of Irreversible Complications

Aquablation therapy has a very low rates of irreversible complications (incontinence, ejaculatory dysfunction, erectile dysfunction) because:1-2

  • 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. It should be noted that surgeons may use a minimal amount of cautery following an Aquablation therapy procedure to control bleeding.

Confidence in Procedure

Aquablation therapy is the only procedure that resects prostate tissue with a robotically controlled waterjet, designed to minimize human error.

Long-Term Relief

In clinical studies, Aquablation therapy has been shown to provide long-term relief at 5 years.1,2

Exceptional results vs TURP

When compared with transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), Aquablation therapy demonstrated:5
  • Showed similar symptom relief
  • Lower complication rate
  • Fewer retreatments

Exceptional efficacy

Aquablation therapy patients on average experienced: 1-3

  • 16-point improvement in International Prostate Symptom Score
  • 3.3-point improvement in quality of life
  • 2x improvement in urinary flow rate
0 %
of men with BPH wished their doctors would have discussed Aquablation therapy with them4
0 %
of men with BPH would have considered Aquablation therapy if their doctor had told them about it1–4

Aquablation Therapy Recovery

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.1,2,4

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. This can be managed with mild pain medication. Patients can resume their normal activities once approved by their doctor.

Please refer to the discharge instructions provided by your surgery team and Dr. Daugherty.

Have questions or want more information?

Shane Daugherty, DO

Shane Daugherty, DO

For more information, ask for a consultation with Dr. Shane Daugherty at Meadville Urology, located in Meadville Medical Center’s Liberty Street Medical Arts Building.

Call for More Information
Meadville Medical Center Liberty Street Medical Arts Building
Liberty Street Medical Arts Building
765 Liberty Street, Meadville, PA, 16335
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References


1. Gilling PJ, et al. Can J Urol.2022

2. Bhojani N, et al. J Urol. 2023.

3. Elterman D, et al. BMJ Surg Interv Health Technol.

4. Data on file, PROCEPT BioRobotics.

Risk and Safety Information
Read more on the Aquablation® Therapy website.
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