Work

A Narrative Review of Robotic Aquablation in Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Care: Where We Are Now

Year: 2025

Type: review

Abstract: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a condition causing lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) that impair men's health and quality of life for years. The well-established surgical treatments, like transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), may pose risks of thermal injury and subsequent sexual dysfunction. This narrative review summarizes the current evidence for robotic Aquablation, a novel, image-guided therapy for BPH. Aquablation utilizes a heat-free, high-velocity saline jet, robotically controlled under real-time ultrasound, to precisely resect tissue while preserving crucial collagenous structures like the bladder neck and ejaculatory ducts, so this may preserve the functional outcomes. Clinical trials and prospective studies have consistently demonstrated that Aquablation provides significant and durable improvements in urinary outcomes, including International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and peak flow rate (Qmax), comparable to TURP. Its primary advantage is the superior preservation of sexual function, with significantly lower rates of ejaculatory dysfunction compared to standard procedures. Furthermore, a more formal meta-analysis and systematic review incorporating newer studies is desired.

Source: Cureus

DOI: 10.7759/cureus.96677

Authors: Mohammad Ekhlasur Rahman, Faisal Haque, Muhammad Rakib Hasan, Mahabub Hassan, Rezuana Tamanna

Institutions: West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust, Watford General Hospital, Broomfield Hospital, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust, Craigavon Area Hospital

Language: English

Topic: Urinary Bladder and Prostate Research

Subfield: Urology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: diamond

OpenAlex ID: W4416204646