Robotic prostate surgery is helping to reduce the NHS waiting period as the mode of treatment is three times faster than the standard way, a news report has claimed. A system called “aquablation” is being used by the surgeons to remove overgrown prostate tissue via a robotic arm.
While the conventional method uses laser technology, the minimally invasive operation uses real-time ultrasound scans to plan the procedure and then delivers a high-speed sterile saline water jet into the prostate to remove tissue.
Conventional surgery can take up to three hours and can be very challenging to perform.
The treatment is used on men who have benign enlarged prostates, which can cause obstructive urinary symptoms.
Surgeons at Guy’s and St Thomas’ hospital, one of the leading UK centres for treating enlarged prostates, performed 10 such procedures in one day last month – believed to be a world record.
More than 30 patients have undergone the procedure at the London hospital since it first began using it this summer.
Doctors have said the speed and accuracy of the robotic system mean they are able to clear the backlog of waiting for patients far quicker.
It comes as 7.2 million patients are waiting to start treatment on the NHS.
Jonathan Noël, consultant urological surgeon at Guy’s and St Thomas’ told The Telegraph: “Aquablation can help us tackle waiting lists – it’s a procedure that is easier to master than the more conventional laser surgery for enlarged prostates.
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“He explained over the phone about aquablation and said he could get me on the list.
“I turned up on Sunday, had the treatment, and stayed in the hospital for 24 hours before I was discharged.
“My recovery has been good and my quality of life has improved.
“This procedure was so much ‘kinder’ to me physically than the one I had had previously.
“This is medicine moving forwards – it was first class.”
