Hoag Treats First Patient with Aquablation, A New Procedure for Benign Prostate Enlargement

Diagnosed with an oversized prostate and 200 bladder stones, Andrew experienced symptoms of uncontrolled urination. A blood test confirmed that he also had an increased risk for prostate cancer. So, when doctors asked Andrew if he would be willing to wait for treatment, it was not a given that his answer would be, “yes.”

But Andrew knew that Hoag is no ordinary hospital.

Andrew greeted two grandchildren into this world at Hoag and trusts the hospital’s reputation of excellence and focus on individualized care. He also knows that Hoag is a nationwide pioneer of medical advancements that improve patient lives.

Urologist Michael K. Louie, M.D., who specializes in minimally invasive, office-based techniques, explained to Andrew that he could receive treatment right away or consider waiting a few weeks for Hoag to receive a new, state-of-the-art innovation that improves upon standard urologic surgery.

Aquablation is a minimally invasive surgical procedure that uses an image-guided high-pressure water jet to precisely destroy excess prostate tissue. This new robotic surgical device would enable Dr. Louie to create a surgical map, customized to Andrew’s anatomy. And because it is performed using a robotically controlled, heat-free waterjet, the procedure improves accuracy and reduces the amount of time Andrew would have to be under anesthesia from a few hours to a few minutes.

The patient decided to be patient, and within a few weeks became the first person to undergo robotic aquablation treatment at Hoag.

Andrew said the surgery went flawlessly.

“The doctors and the assistants were really good, happy people. They were all upbeat and positive which made things better for me and helped me know that I would be all right after surgery,” he said.

Today, Andrew is back to his daily routine, no longer mindful of restroom accessibility. He waited for the right surgery by the right doctor at the right hospital. And now, “waiting” is something Andrew can do without thinking twice.