Aquablation® Expands to Lehigh Valley Hospital–Cedar Crest

Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) is expanding its use of Aquablation^®, an advanced, minimally invasive procedure for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), to Lehigh Valley Hospital (LVH)–Cedar Crest.

The procedure, only offered by LVHN in this region, was first offered by LVPG Urology at LVH–Muhlenberg last year. More than 150 Aquablation procedures have been conducted at LVH–Muhlenberg.

“We’re proud to be able to offer this world-class technology to men here in the Lehigh Valley and beyond,” says urologist Angelo Baccala, MD, Deputy Physician in Chief, Innovation and Program Development, Lehigh Valley Institute for Surgical Excellence. “It’s safe. It’s more effective than standard treatment. And, very frankly, it’s state of the art. The majority of men are fully recovered and back to normal activities three to four weeks after Aquablation. They’re off medication and back to their normal routine.”

Urologists Jatin Gupta, DO, and Clifford Georges, MD, perform the Aquablation procedure at both LVH–Muhlenberg and LVH–Cedar Crest.

Combining cystoscopy with ultrasound imaging, Aquablation allows surgeons to see the prostate in real time and precisely remove targeted prostate tissue. It is safe and effective for patients suffering from lower urinary tract symptoms and can be performed on prostates of any shape and size.

Aquablation therapy is performed by the AquaBeam Robotic System, cleared by the Food and Drug Administration in 2017. It is performed in the hospital. Patients are under anesthesia for the entire procedure, which typically takes less than an hour and involves an overnight stay.

Aquablation features and benefits:

• Faster recovery and reduced post-operative pain compared to traditional surgery
• Robotically controlled, heat-free water jet
• Ultrasound imaging allows mapping of targeted tissue
• Very low rate of irreversible complications – incontinence, ejaculatory dysfunction, erectile dysfunction