Aquablation Therapy for BPH | Iredell Health System & Piedmont HealthCare”

Iredell Health System and Piedmont HealthCare have announced a collaboration to offer Aquablation® therapy at Iredell Memorial Hospital to treat men suffering from an enlarged prostate. The first cases using the new therapy were completed today.

The new AI-powered HYDROS™ Robotic System, a next-generation platform used for treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), uses what’s known as Aquablation, a clinically proven method 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.

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.

“BPH is a widespread condition that severely compromises quality of life for countless men over age 50. 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,” said Dr. Tao Cui, a urologist at PHC Piedmont Urology. He and Dr. Kush Patel of PHC Urology & Urological Surgery and Dr. Dominick Carbone, Jr. of Iredell Urology are currently the three urologists in the area who will use the new robotic system.

Patel adds, “We are excited to expand options for our patients with a highly precise, robotic-guided treatment. This technology allows us to deliver highly targeted therapy with minimal downtime, and we remain committed to offering the most advanced, least invasive treatment options for BPH in our community.”

“The precision of the robotically controlled removal of prostate tissue could potentially reduce some of the most distressing side effects of outlet reduction surgery,” shared Carbone. “As part of the Iredell Physician Network I am pleased to offer this cutting-edge technology to our Iredell community.”

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.

“We are pleased to be able to offer this new service to patients,” said Gary Butler, Director of Surgical Services for Iredell Health System. “For far too long individuals in our community have had to travel to have this procedure. Now, they can get this advanced level of care for BPH locally.”

For more information on Aquablation therapy, visit aquablation.com.

About Iredell Health System
Iredell Health System includes Iredell Memorial Hospital; Iredell Davis Medical Center; Iredell Davis Behavioral Health Hospital; Iredell Mooresville; Iredell Home Health; Iredell Wound Care & Hyperbaric Center; Community and Corporate Wellness; Occupational Medicine; the Iredell Physician Network and more. Iredell Memorial Hospital is the largest nonprofit hospital in Iredell County. The comprehensive healthcare organization has 391 licensed beds; more than 2,000 employees; and has approximately 365 healthcare providers representing various specialties. Centers of excellence include Women’s and Children’s; Cardiovascular; Cancer; Surgical Services and Wellness & Prevention. The health system’s Iredell Mooresville campus is home to the area’s only 24-hour urgent care facility, as well as an ambulatory surgery center, imaging center, rehabilitation services, and physician practices. The mission of Iredell Health System is to inspire wellbeing. For a comprehensive list of services and programs, visit www.iredellhealth.org.

About Piedmont HealthCare
About Piedmont HealthCare Piedmont HealthCare is one of the largest physician-owned multi-specialty groups in North Carolina and the 5th largest healthcare organization in the Charlotte Metro market. We are committed to providing excellent care for the whole family. We have more than 70 convenient locations and over 215 physicians and providers across multiple specialties to provide our community with the most innovative medical care. Visit www.piedmonthealthcare.com to learn more.