When St. Tammany Health System introduced Aquablation therapy in 2023, the goal was straightforward: bring one of the most advanced treatments for enlarged prostate to the Northshore so patients could receive leading-edge care close to home.
Less than three years later, that commitment has made the health system’s flagship St. Tammany Parish Hospital the highest-volume Aquablation center in Louisiana, according to figures from Aquablation developer PROCEPT BioRobotics.
Since its first Aquablation case on Oct. 24, 2023, local surgeons have performed a total of 481 such procedures at the hospital. Of those, Dr. Sunil Purohit of Louisiana Healthcare Associates has performed more than 200, making him the highest-volume Aquablation surgeon in Louisiana. Additionally, Dr. Ricky Wendel of Lakeshore Urology has performed more than 100, placing him second statewide.
Their combined experience – along with that of the hospital’s surgical teams assisting them – gives Northshore patients access to a level of Aquablation expertise unmatched in Louisiana.
Aquablation therapy is a minimally invasive, robotic-assisted treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a noncancerous enlargement of the prostate that affects approximately half of men between the ages of 51 and 60, with prevalence increasing as men age. Left untreated, BPH can significantly affect quality of life and, in some cases, lead to more serious bladder or kidney complications.
With the Aquablation system, surgeons use a robotically controlled, heat-free waterjet guided by ultrasound imaging and cystoscopic visualization. The technology allows physicians to create a personalized treatment plan based on each patient's unique anatomy while helping preserve important structures related to continence and sexual function.
St. Tammany Parish Hospital became the first hospital on the Northshore to offer Aquablation therapy when it launched the program in October 2023. The acquisition of the AquaBeam Robotic System was made possible through the generosity of donors to St. Tammany Health Foundation, underscoring the important role philanthropy plays in bringing innovative technology to the community.
Today, the program’s distinction as Louisiana’s busiest Aquablation center means patients have access to one of the state's most experienced teams for the procedure without having to travel far from home.
According to health system leaders, the achievement is another example of St. Tammany Health System's continued investment in advanced surgical care, ensuring Northshore residents have access to innovative treatments and highly skilled physicians right here in their own community.
Visit www.StTammany.health/robotics to learn more about St. Tammany Health System’s surgical robotics program.