Tyler, Texas (January 15, 2025) — UT Health Tyler today announced that it is the first in the region to offer Aquablation therapy with the new HYDROS Robotic System, the next-generation platform to treat men suffering from benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), commonly known as an enlarged prostate. Aquablation therapy, now delivered by an AI-powered robotic system, is clinically proven 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.
“BPH is a widespread condition that severely compromises quality of life for countless men over age 50,” said Dr. William Armstrong, a urologist with UT Health East Texas. “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.”
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.
The clinically proven procedure integrates next-generation ultrasound imaging and digital cystoscopy to provide the surgeon with a multi-dimensional, detailed view of the entire prostate, enabling personalized treatment planning tailored to each patient’s unique anatomy. Utilizing a heat-free waterjet, the robot executes the surgeon-defined treatment plan to remove obstructive tissue while protecting critical anatomy. This enables efficient and predictable waterjet resection, standardizing the operative experience across a wide range of prostate sizes and shapes.
Aquablation therapy is backed by 5-year clinical data demonstrating significant durable symptom relief while preserving sexual function and continence across prostates of all shapes and sizes.
For more information on Aquablation therapy, visit aquablation.com.