AQUABEAM (Aquablation) Robotic Therapy for Enlarged Prostate at Asklepios Hospital Barmbek

Aquablation (often referred to as AquaBeam®) is a robot-assisted, ultrasound-guided waterjet procedure for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH/enlarged prostate). Instead of using electrical cutting or laser heating as the primary tissue-removal mechanism, the system uses real-time imaging and a high-precision, high-pressure waterjet to remove the obstructing prostate tissue that narrows the urethra, aiming to restore urinary flow while minimizing thermal injury to surrounding structures. Asklepios Clinic Barmbek introduced AquaBeam as an additional innovative option for men with BPH, describing the method as a combination of imaging and focused waterjet that allows surgeons to identify and mark the tissue to be removed at the start of the operation, after which the robot removes the marked tissue under computer-assisted guidance. Barmbek is also presented as one of only a handful of German sites routinely offering the method, and the hospital’s urology service reports a high overall volume of BPH operations (context for institutional experience in prostate surgery). The operating time is very short (without publishing a fixed minute count), and Aquablation patient information sources commonly describe a <1 hour total procedure time in routine cases (the actual waterjet ablation itself is typically only minutes; planning and setup make up the rest). Aquablation is usually performed under general or spinal anesthesia. Aquablation is generally performed in a hospital setting and commonly involves an overnight stay; patient-facing Aquablation guidance notes that the procedure “may involve” an overnight stay, and many centers discharge patients the next day, depending on recovery and bleeding control. After diagnostics confirm that lower urinary tract symptoms are driven by BPH obstruction, Aquablation is performed transurethrally (through the urethra, with no external incisions). In the operating room, the surgeon uses real-time ultrasound imaging to visualize the prostate and creates a digital surgical map: the key concept emphasized by Asklepios is that the portion of prostate tissue intended for removal can be precisely identified and marked at the beginning. Once the plan is set, the robotic system executes the resection using a high-pressure waterjet, removing the obstructing tissue according to the mapped boundaries under computer-assisted control, while the surgeon supervises and can adjust the plan as needed. The combination of speed, precision, and reduced tissue irritation positions AquaBeam/Aquablation as a “gentler” alternative to some mechanical or heat-based approaches. The clinic also highlights intended functional advantages: protecting the urinary sphincter to reduce continence risk and preserving sexual function with a high likelihood in appropriately selected patients.