Central Maine Medical Center (CMMC)today announced it is the first healthcare system in central Maine to offer Aquablation® therapy for the treatment of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Central Maine Healthcare, which owns CMMC, is shining the spotlight on this advanced, minimally invasive robotic-assisted procedure that uses the power of water to remove obstructive prostate tissue and provide clinically proven, long-lasting BPH symptom relief while preserving sexual function and continence across all shapes and sizes.
BPH is a condition in which the prostate gland enlarges, leading to various urinary symptoms. Without timely treatment, BPH can lead to severe health issues such as permanent bladder or kidney damage, bladder stones and incontinence. Common symptoms of BPH include frequent need to urinate, especially at night, difficulty starting urination, a weak or interrupted urine stream, the inability to completely empty the bladder and dribbling at the end of urination. BPH is a highly prevalent condition, particularly affecting older men. BPH affects one out of every two males between the ages of 51 and 60 and an overwhelming 99% of men with BPH report that the condition negatively impacts their overall quality of life.
Aquablation therapy is the first and only ultrasound guided, robotic-assisted, heat-free waterjet for the treatment of BPH. The system’s real-time ultrasound imaging provides the surgeon with a multi-dimensional view of the prostate enabling personalized treatment planning tailored to each patient’s unique anatomy. The surgeon can specify which areas of the prostate to remove while preserving the anatomy that controls erectile function, ejaculatory function and continence. Once the treatment plan is mapped by the surgeon, the predictable robotic-assisted execution enables prostate tissue to be removed in a precise, targeted and controlled fashion.
“We are proud to be among the first in Maine to offer a solution for men with BPH that provides significant, long-lasting symptom relief with minimal risk to their sexual function or continence compared to other surgical treatment options,” said Christopher Foote, DO, a urologist at CMMC.
“We are focusing on men’s health and Aquablation therapy, addressing the need to deliver durable outcomes that are safe, effective and consistent across all prostate sizes and shapes,” Evan Dunn, MD, head of the urology service line at Central Maine Healthcare. “Aquablation therapy is the next step to furthering our commitment to provide advanced urological care to the people of central Maine.
Central Maine Healthcare currently performs about 600 robotic specialty procedures annually. Other robotic procedures are used for spine navigation, hip and knee replacement, urologic surgery and others.
Those interested in scheduling an appointment to see if they are good candidates for Aquablation should call (207)795-2171.
Please visit the Central Maine Healthcare website for more information on Aquablation therapy.
Pictured: Christopher Foote, DO, works with Aquablation therapy equipment; Christopher Foote, DO (left) and Evan Dunn, MD