Mon Health Medical Center has become the first in West Virginia and the surrounding region to offer a new, minimally invasive procedure for enlarged prostate using artificial intelligence. The procedure, called aquablation, uses a robotic system and a high-pressure water jet to remove excess prostate tissue.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), or enlarged prostate, is a common condition in aging men that can cause urinary problems. However, most conventional treatment approaches are usually invasive and involve incisions, heat, or cold. In contrast, ablation uses a precise, image-guided water jet to remove the obstructing tissue without causing extensive damage to the surrounding tissues.
Dr. Jaschar Shakuri-Rad, a Mon Health urologist and medical director of Robotic Surgery, is using the HYDROS Robotic System— the latest advancement in aquablation technology, to improve surgical accuracy, efficiency, and patient outcomes.
The system, manufactured by Procept BioRobotics, features FirstAssist AI, a built-in artificial intelligence that learns from each procedure to improve subsequent operations. As a result, the robot gets smarter each time when new data is added to its system, Shakuri-Rad told the Dominion Post, adding the robot helped him plan surgeries “very quickly.”
Leveraging advanced algorithms, the robot helped the surgeon to streamline the entire operation, saving time and improving patient safety.
Revolutionizing Surgical Procedures with New Capabilities
The HYDROS system uses two robotic arms with distinct functions. One uses a rectal ultrasound to create multi-dimensional images of the prostate, while the other inserts a camera and a water jet through the urethra.
The AI-assisted visuals help surgeons pinpoint the areas for tissue removal, avoiding damage to critical muscles, nerves, and the rectum. With this new technology, Shakuri-Rad said a procedure that would usually take up to 90 minutes using traditional BPH procedures now takes about 20-25 minutes.
This shorter duration means less time under anesthesia for patients and uses significantly less water than some laser procedures. According to Shakuri-Rad, the aquablation procedure uses two 3-liter bags of water, compared to 25-30 bags used in some laser procedures.
The procedure typically requires an overnight hospital stay but can sometimes be performed on an outpatient basis. It does not negatively affect sexual function or urinary continence, and symptoms are not expected to recur for a decade or more.
Minimally Invasive Surgery
Mon Health previously used an earlier version of the aquablation system but recently acquired the AI-assisted HYDROS system. Patients have traveled from as far as Florida for the treatment, Shakuri-Rad said.
Shakuri-Rad described the advancement as minimizing “minimally invasive surgery,” as the aquablation procedure requires no incisions and leaves no scars.
David Goldberg, president and CEO of Vandalia North, which includes Mon Health Medical Center, said the technological milestone reflects the company’s unwavering commitment to improving patient care through advanced treatment options for the community.
