A new robotic procedure designed to provide relief for men with an enlarged prostate is now available in the Midlands, offering another option for treatment for men in the region.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), commonly known as an enlarged prostate, affects up to 3 million men in the UK, with many requiring surgical treatment to manage the condition. BPH can significantly impact daily life, causing symptoms like difficulty in passing urine, frequent urination, and a feeling of incomplete bladder emptying. If left untreated, these symptoms may worsen over time, leading to complications such as acute urinary retention and infections.
Following a positive recommendation from the National Institute of Care and Excellence (NICE), Midland’s patients now have access to Aquablation Therapy, a, robot-assisted treatment for BPH. Aquablation Therapy uses a high-speed, heat-free waterjet to precisely remove excess prostate tissue, widening the urethra and alleviating symptoms associated with BPH.
While traditional treatments, such as surgery, can help manage BPH symptoms, they often come with a risk of long-term side effects, such as urinary incontinence, ejaculatory dysfunction, and erectile dysfunction. Aquablation Therapy, however, significantly reduces these risks, providing men with a safer, less invasive option that effectively preserves quality of life.
Maya Harris, Consultant Urological Surgeon, explains: “Aquablation Therapy represents an exciting advancement in treating enlarged prostates. The use of waterjet technology, without any heat, allows us to achieve excellent symptom relief while minimising potential side effects, like incontinence or sexual dysfunction. This technology is truly transformative for patient outcomes.”
The procedure is clinically proven to offer high-quality results, preserving continence in 99.5% of cases, erectile function in 100%, and ejaculatory function in 89%. Aquablation Therapy is also the first and only robot-assisted, image-guided treatment for BPH, allowing surgeons to address a wide range of prostate sizes and shapes with precision.
Alan Doherty, Consultant Urological Surgeon and Clinical Director for Birmingham Prostate Clinic, adds: “It is great that patients have more choice when managing their enlarged prostate. Alongside Aquablation, patients also have the choice of a wide range of treatments including GreenLight laser or it can be cut into large pieces with laser (HoLEP).
Also on offer, and frequently offered to patients, are procedures that ‘kill’ prostate tissue rather than remove it. These include using heat in the form of steam (Rezum), focused ultrasound (HIFU) or cold (cryotherapy) or laser (Echolaser) or stopping the blood supply (PAE; prostate artery embolisation). These techniques are not as good at sorting out a blockage as removing tissue, but they are more minimally invasive and don’t necessarily need a general anaesthetic.”
For more information about Aquablation Therapy visit: Aquablation Therapy | Treatments | Birmingham Prostate Clinic
