The Urology department at The Luton & Dunstable University Hospital has become only the tenth unit in the UK to offer a revolutionary procedure for men with benign prostate enlargement.
The new and increasingly popular treatment called Aquablation delivers, under anaesthesia, a high pressure water jet, controlled by a computer and robotic arm under the control of the surgeon. This ablates the obstructing enlarged prostate tissue, leaving a widened channel for symptom relief.
As well as improving urinary symptoms, the added benefit of Aquablation is its ability to preserve male sexual function. These aspects of men’s health are increasingly important in discussions centred around treatment options for patients suffering with symptoms from an enlarged prostate.
Aquablation is a robotic system that uses high pressure, heat-free, blasts of water to remove tissue from an enlarged prostate. It targets only the necessary areas and ensures the tissue is removed precisely. This leads to fewer side effects than the more traditional Transurethral Resection of the Prostate (TURP) procedure that involves cutting away the section of the prostate using heat, which normally requires patients to stay in hospital for 2-3 days.
It can also be performed more quickly, with the new technology meaning the average procedure takes around 40 minutes which is a major improvement on the more traditional surgery which can take up to three hours.
The majority of patients will also suffer less pain and fewer complications after surgery, being able to leave hospital the same day or after just one night.
Mr Farooq Khan, L&D Consultant Urologist leading the new treatment, says: “As a clinician we are always very keen to provide our patients with holistic care and the best that modern technology and innovation has to offer. The new treatment of Aquablation has the added advantage of providing an effective treatment for benign (non-cancerous) enlarged prostates while also preserving sexual function.
“There is an increasing understanding as a young urologist that this aspect of men’s lives is important in patients choosing the most appropriate treatment that addresses their symptoms and their wellbeing. At Bedfordshire Hospitals we strive to bring the best treatments for our patients so they benefit locally without needing to travel long distances to other units.”
