Expectations Facing Reality: Complication Management after Aquablation Treatment for Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms

Aquablation is a modality recently introduced for surgical treatment of men with symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia. Large multi-institutional studies have shown a relatively low rate of high-grade (Clavien-Dindo grade ≥3) complications. Postoperative bleeding primarily depends on prostate volume and approached 8.3% in the initial cumulative experience, for which catheter traction was the predominant hemostatic technique. A systematic and reproducible technique for cautery loop hemostasis has reduced the hemorrhage rate to 1.4%. PATIENT SUMMARY: Aquablation is a surgical treatment option for enlarged prostate glands that are causing urinary problems. This technique uses a water jet to remove prostate tissue and has a relatively low rate of serious complications.