Opinion
Video
BPH: Strategies for Guiding Patients From Medication to Intervention
Author(s):
Panelist discusses how hospitals benefit from adopting aqua ablation therapy by improving surgical efficiency, reducing turnover times, enabling outpatient procedures, and providing a highly effective treatment option that can enhance patient outcomes while preserving sexual function.
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Strategies for Guiding Patients From Medication to Intervention
Aqua ablation therapy, especially with the new-generation device Hydros, is being increasingly adopted by hospitals for its efficiency and patient benefits. Here are some key points:
- Operational efficiency: Aqua ablation allows for faster turnover times, often as little as 30 minutes. Surgeons can perform 7 to 9 procedures in a day with minimal downtime, making it ideal for hospitals aiming to increase patient throughput.
- Size agnostic: Unlike other procedures, aqua ablation’s duration is less dependent on prostate size. Both small and large prostates take approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour, compared with other methods that may take up to 3 hours for larger prostates. This consistency allows for more efficient scheduling and higher procedure volume.
- Outpatient procedure: Aqua ablation can often be done as an outpatient procedure, meaning patients don’t need to stay overnight. This reduces hospital costs and allows for quicker turnover, benefiting both the institution and the patients.
- Preservation of sexual function: Aqua ablation is known for preserving sexual function, which is a significant advantage for patients. Word-of-mouth recommendations and positive patient experiences have led to increased demand, enhancing the hospital’s reputation (the “halo effect”).
- Medication alternatives: Aqua ablation presents an effective option for patients who are weary of long-term medical therapy. Many patients on benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) medications are unaware of interventional alternatives like aqua ablation, which can offer better and more durable relief. It also reduces dependency on medications that patients must take for life, which may not always be effective in the long term.
- Long-term health benefits: Continuing BPH medications without addressing underlying issues can lead to bladder complications, such as poor compliance, bladder instability, and the formation of diverticula. Aqua ablation, as a definitive treatment, reduces the risks of these complications and helps avoid long-term damage from unaddressed obstruction.
Conclusion
By adopting aqua ablation therapy, hospitals not only improve patient outcomes but also benefit from higher patient turnover, increased satisfaction, and enhanced reputation due to the procedure’s effectiveness and low adverse effect profile.
