Dr. Carl Walker Performs His 100th Aquablation Procedure

The most in Washington state!

Carl J Walker, MD, is proud to have provided his 100^th patient with relief from BPH symptoms using a new treatment called Aquablation. The even bigger news is that Dr. Walker has performed more aquablation procedures in the entire state of Washington!

BPH, or benign prostatic hyperplasia, is also commonly known as enlarged prostate. Spokane started using aquablation in November 2022.

First, a bit about BPH

Nearly half of all men experience symptoms of an enlarged prostate, or benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), by the age of 60. For each one of these men, the pathway to treatment can differ.

The prostate is considered enlarged when its tissue expands to the point of compressing the urethra, which runs through the prostate from the bladder.

BPH symptoms include:

• Frequent or urgent need to urinate, including increased nighttime urination
• Difficulty starting urination
• Weak urine stream or a stream that stops and starts
• Dribbling after urination
• Inability to empty the bladder completely

Fortunately, BPH isn’t cancerous, but left untreated it can contribute to other ailments, including urinary tract infections (UTIs), bladder or kidney damage, bladder stones, or urinary incontinence.

BPH is among the leading reasons men visit the urologists at Spokane Urology, and why we are dedicated to serving a full spectrum of solutions. If one treatment doesn’t suit you or your lifestyle, we will find the one that does.

Medications may be the first course of treatment for an enlarged prostate. If medications do not provide enough symptom relief, if side effects are bothersome, or if prescriptions become too expensive, some men choose an alternative treatment.

Why Aquablation?

Although Spokane Urology offers a number of great treatments for BPH, from non-invasive to surgery, we want to take this opportunity to highlight one of our newest options – Aquablation. This therapy is especially good for larger, hard to treat prostates.

The procedure is performed in a hospital under anesthesia and takes less than an hour to complete. During the procedure, excess prostate tissue is removed with powerful heat-free water jets. The surgeon is assisted by robotic technology, which provides precision and minimizes human error.

An overnight stay in the hospital is typically needed. You may be sent home with a catheter if you are unable to empty your bladder after the procedure. Some patients stay a second night in the hospital.

Aquablation provides patients, even those with very large prostates, relief from their symptoms and an improved quality of life without the fear of complication.

If you’re struggling with BPH symptoms and have already tried medication and lifestyle changes, ask your Spokane Urology physician if Aquablation is right for you.