Urology
Our skilled urologists offer comprehensive, compassionate treatment and personalized solutions for urological conditions.
Robotic Waterjet Ablation Therapy
At Bryn Mawr Hospital, part of Main Line Health, we pride ourselves on providing innovative treatments. Our urologists are not only trained but also have extensive experience in minimally invasive techniques, including Aquablation®.
What is BPH?
Growing older comes with its set of challenges and changes. Among these, for men, is the development of an enlarged prostate or benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). While this condition is common and not always troublesome, its symptoms can severely impact the quality of life if they do arise.
Common symptoms of BPH can include:
- Difficulty starting urination
- Weak urine stream
- Urgent and frequent need to urinate, especially at night
- Urinary incontinence
- Pain during urination
If left untreated, an enlarged postate can lead to urinary tract infections, bladder stones or kidney issues.
Conventional treatments vs. Aquablation®
Historically, BPH treatments included lifestyle adjustments, medication and surgery; all of which could carry side effects or not be suitable for all patients.
Aquablation® therapy is a cutting-edge, minimally invasive procedure that offers significant relief with minimal side effects. The therapy uses the AquaBeam® Robotic System to combine robotic technology, imaging and heat-free waterjets to remove excess prostate tissue. This is different from other techniques, which may only move tissue or treat the tissue without removing it.
Because the prostate is accessed through the urethra (where urine passes through), no incisions are necessary. As a result, it provides significant, long-lasting symptom relief with lower risk to sexual function and continence.
It’s the first surgical robot approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to treat urinary problems from an enlarged prostate.
Benefits of Aquablation® therapy include:
- No incisions needed as the procedure is done through the urethra
- Minimal risk to sexual function and continence
- Significant, lasting symptom relief
Call the Main Line Health Contact Center at 1.866. 225.5654 to make an appointment with a urologist at Bryn Mawr Hospital.
How is Aquablation® performed?
There are two steps to Aquablation therapy:
- Creating a surgical map: Because every prostate is different, your surgeon will adapt the surgery to your body. Using a camera (called a cystoscope) and ultrasound imaging, your surgeon can view the entire prostate. Then, they’ll mark the parts of the prostate to be removed during the procedure.
- Removing excess prostate tissue: Based on the surgical map, your surgeon will use a robotic tool and a heat-free waterjet to remove prostate tissue. Because of the precision allowed by the camera and ultrasound imaging, they can avoid parts of the prostate that lead to complications.
What are the risks?
Like any procedure, there are risks, but Aquablation® has shown to have minimal side effects, especially related to sexual function and continence.
How long is the recovery time?
Recovery times can vary, but patients generally report a swift return to normal activities.