Benign prostatic hyperplasia: an update on minimally invasive therapy including Aquablation

Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a common condition affecting older men. New interventional treatments have emerged and evolved over the years, each with their own distinct efficacy and safety profiles. While some have fallen out of favor, new options continue to be explored.

We provide a review and update on minimally invasive treatment modalities for BPH, including prostatic artery embolization (PAE), Aquablation, convective water vapor thermal therapy (Rezum), and prostatic urethral lift (Urolift).

While current urologic guidelines recommend against PAE outside of the context of clinical trials, Aquablation, Rezum, and Urolift have demonstrated excellent efficacy and durability in relieving LUTS in the BPH patient. When compared to the gold standard, transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP), these novel therapies yield equivalent or superior objective outcomes, with the additional benefit of significantly reduced sexual side effects. Additionally, Rezum and Urolift may be performed as outpatient procedures under local anesthesia, allowing for decreased hospitalizations, operative times, catheterization duration, and financial burden on the health care system.

Aquablation, Rezum and Urolift are minimally invasive surgical treatment options capable of providing rapid, significant, and durable relief of LUTS secondary to BPH. Each technique demonstrates comparable efficacy to TURP with the added advantages of preserving sexual function, decreasing patient morbidity, and limiting healthcare costs.