Special to IFN
Iredell Health System and Piedmont HealthCare have teamed up to to offer Aquablation therapy at Iredell Memorial Hospital to treat men suffering from an enlarged prostate. The first cases using the new therapy were completed earlier this week.
The new AI-powered HYDROS Robotic System, a next-generation platform used for treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), uses what’s known as Aquablation, a clinically proven method to provide significant, durable BPH symptom relief while preserving sexual function and continence across prostates of all shapes and sizes.
BPH is an unfortunate reality of aging for millions of men and impacts urinary function, making it difficult to urinate and fully empty the bladder. Common indicators that a man may be experiencing BPH are the need to urinate immediately or urgently, urinating more often than normal and urinating frequently at night. Without timely treatment, BPH can lead to severe health issues such as permanent bladder or kidney damage, bladder stones and incontinence.
One in two men ages 51-60 have BPH and 99 percent of men say BPH impacts their quality of life. The standard treatment option today is surgery, but this has been shown to impact sexual function and continence.
Aquablation therapy was designed to offer a minimally invasive and effective solution for BPH, minimizing the need for men to choose between safety and efficacy. Aquablation therapy is unique in its use of real-time, ultrasound-guided, robotic-assisted waterjet technology, allowing surgeons to create a personalized treatment plan that precisely targets which prostate tissue to remove and which to preserve. With this tailored approach, the system accurately removes problematic tissue while safeguarding critical anatomy.
The HYDROS Robotic System represents the next evolution in the delivery of Aquablation therapy. Leveraging insights from over 50,000 procedures, HYDROS features FirstAssist AI treatment planning, advanced image guidance, robotic resection, and a streamlined workflow. HYDROS is designed to improve efficiency, enhance surgeon and staff experience, and deliver a more accurate and consistent treatment plan for better clinical outcomes.
“BPH is a widespread condition that severely compromises quality of life for countless men over age 50. With Aquablation therapy, men can reclaim their lifestyles and find relief from symptoms while preserving sexual function and continence — outcomes that have proven elusive with many traditional treatment modalities,” said Dr. Tao Cui, a urologist at PHC Piedmont Urology.
Cui and Dr. Kush Patel of PHC Urology & Urological Surgery and Dr. Dominick Carbone Jr. of Iredell Urology are the three urologists in the area who will use the new robotic system.
“We are excited to expand options for our patients with a highly precise, robotic-guided treatment,” Patel said. “This technology allows us to deliver highly targeted therapy with minimal downtime, and we remain committed to offering the most advanced, least invasive treatment options for BPH in our community.”
“The precision of the robotically controlled removal of prostate tissue could potentially reduce some of the most distressing side effects of outlet reduction surgery,” added Carbone. “As part of the Iredell Physician Network, I am pleased to offer this cutting-edge technology to our Iredell community.”
Aquablation therapy is backed by five-year clinical data demonstrating significant durable symptom relief.
“We are pleased to be able to offer this new service to patients,” said Gary Butler, director of Surgical Services for Iredell Health System. “For far too long individuals in our community have had to travel to have this procedure. Now, they can get this advanced level of care for BPH locally.”
LEARN MORE
For more information on Aquablation therapy, visit aquablation.com.