Giving North Orange County Residents Greater Access to Leading Therapy
MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center is expanding its Urology Program to include Aquablation therapy—an advanced treatment option for men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), or enlarged prostate. BPH is a common condition as men age and can cause frequent urination, urgency, a weak stream, incomplete bladder emptying and repeated nighttime trips to the bathroom. For some men, those symptoms begin to affect sleep, work, travel and daily routines.
Aquablation may be considered for men with moderate to severe urinary symptoms, including some patients with larger or more complex prostates, where other minimally invasive therapies may be less effective.
Unique from other traditional prostate surgeries, Aquablation therapy removes prostatic tissue blocking urine flow with a robotically-assisted, heat-free waterjet. This approach effectively results in improved urinary symptom scores while minimizing the risk of sexual side effects, which is a common reason why men put off treatment.
“Many men delay treatment because they’re afraid of losing sexual function,” said Paul Oh, M.D., urologist, MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center. “Before Aquablation, men who wanted to protect their ability to ejaculate had few options. Some had to choose a procedure that gave up long-term urinary relief to preserve ejaculation. For men in North Orange County, having Aquablation close to home is a game changer. They no longer have to travel to Los Angeles, Fullerton or Orange for this treatment.”
Traditional BPH surgery, such as transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), uses heat and electrical energy that can affect the nearby nerves and muscles controlling ejaculation. In the randomized WATER clinical trial, procedure-related ejaculatory dysfunction occurred in 7% of Aquablation patients compared with 25% of TURP patients.
Aquablation uses real-time ultrasound and camera imaging allow the surgeon to create a treatment map of the patient’s prostate before any tissue is removed. A robotically controlled waterjet then follows that map through the urethra, without external incisions, to remove the tissue blocking urine flow.
“This procedure allows us to tailor treatment to each patient’s anatomy using continuous image guidance, while never having to make an external incision,” said Dr. Oh. The Aquablation’s water pressure precisely removes tissue blocking urine flow while protecting tissue responsible for semen expulsion.”
Eligibility is determined by a urologist after evaluating a patient’s symptoms, medical history, prostate anatomy and treatment goals.
“If you’re interested in Aquablation, talk with your MemorialCare Medical Group primary care provider or urologist,” Dr. Oh said. “Our urology care team at Orange Coast Medical Center can evaluate your symptoms, confirm whether BPH is the cause, and review the full range of treatment options with you.”
Aquablation therapy is considered a covered benefit for many patients, including Medicare and Medicare Advantage beneficiaries when medical criteria are met, and is also covered by many major private insurers.
To learn more visit memorialcare.org/aquablation.