Quick Facts:
St. Louis - South,
St. Louis
When men turn 50, their chances of experiencing an enlarged prostate are 50%. It can be a frustrating condition that impacts continence and sexual function.
Alex Sheftel, 66, first started noticing problems related to his prostate shortly after he turned 50.
“Driving to Denver to see my son was a challenge because of all the frequent stops we had to make so I could use the restroom,” Sheftel said.
Sheftel was suffering from a condition called benign prostatic hyperplasia, or BPH. It is a common, non-cancerous condition that impacts men as they age causing the prostate gland to enlarge. It can lead to problems with urination including increased urinary frequency, urgency and an inability to completely empty the bladder. The likelihood a man will develop this condition increases with every decade of life.
Sheftel tried lifestyle changes and medications. They seemed to help for a while, but as he entered his 60s, his condition worsened. The medications were no longer helping, and they caused side effects. His urologist, Dr. Jay Patel, recommended surgery.
“Treating BPH is important for improving quality of life, but it goes beyond that,” Dr. Patel said. “BPH can cause significant health problems over time, such as irreversible bladder damage, irreversible kidney damage, bladder stones and incontinence.”
Dr. Patel offered Sheftel a new surgical approach called Aquablation therapy. Dr. Patel is one of the Mercy South urologists who performs the procedure using the AquaBeam Robotic System, the first FDA-cleared, surgical robot that combines real-time, multi-dimensional imaging, automated robotics and heat-free waterjet ablation for targeted, controlled and immediate removal of prostate tissue.
“We have numerous clinical studies, and I have numerous happy patients, supporting the effectiveness of this procedure,” Dr. Patel said. “We’re able to create a personalized treatment plan for each patient based on their own anatomy. And the recovery time is far shorter than traditional surgical methods.”
The procedure takes less than an hour and requires an overnight stay in the hospital. But Sheftel says the recovery is quick and easy, and there was no incision.
“Everything works like it did before my enlarged prostate,” Sheftel said. “I’m off all the meds I was taking before and have no side effects from those meds or the surgery. I have no problems and no pain.”
Sheftel was out of Mercy Hospital South the day after the procedure and says he was fully recovered within a month. Making the drive to Denver to see his son has never been easier.
“I was impressed with the quality of care I received and my experience in the hospital. I’m glad I made this choice,” Sheftel said.
