Greater Regional to add unique treatment

Creston Regional Health board approved $542,000 Nov. 25 for equipment needed to inlcude a treatment for enlarged prostate patients.

Greater Regional Health urologist Dr. Jonathan Fialkov explained the new addition to the board via teleconference. Although a specific start date was not included because of equipment backorders, the procedure is expected to be available early next year.

“I believe this will revolutionize the care of not just enraged prostate but potentially prostate cancer as well. I’m very excited we can be on the cutting edge and way ahead of the curve of providing this treatment,” he said.

An enlarged prostate can cause problems with men emptying the bladder. As the prostate grows, it restricts the urethra. The bladder muscles have to work harder to push urine through the narrowed urethra, which might make urinating difficult. The bladder muscles may weaken and be unable to empty completely, leaving some urine in the bladder.

Fialkov said 40 million men suffer or have significant symptoms of enlarged prostate. He said one-quarter of those patients will need some sort of treatment; medication or surgery. “We’ve had medication to treat this condition for decades. Surgery has been around since the 1920s. They all have side effects, that is the issue.”

Called Aquablation, Fialkov called it “a game changer” compared to what has historically been done.

“High pressure water is delivered by a robot. It’s very exact to remove as much tissue safely with as little harm as possible. The robot device does the procedure,” he said.

He said the procedure is through the urethra and there are no incisions. He said any size prostate can be treated and recovery time is drastically short. He said it has negligible effect on sexual function and no urination incontinence.

Fialkov was trained on Aquablation this fall in Kansas City. He said the past treatments are effective but will effect sexual function as do medications. “The conventional treatment clears the prostate. Surgery can lead to urine incontinence in some patients, create scar tissue and have significant recovery time.”

He said prostate surgeries may need to be redone in a few years as people also consider recovery time and side effects. Traditional prostate surgery can last up to two hours. An Aquablation treatment lasts up to eight minutes.

“People have looked at all minimal evasive options but don’t work as well. There may be a strain or push to urinate and have multiple urination at night. All of thse options give some relief, some are successful, but they all leave room for improvement. This effects a huge number of men and quality of life.”

Research shows men are nervous about treatment because of the trade off. Falkiov said Aquablation removes those anxieties.

“This is four times better than medication you are on, and not even have same side effect as medication and fewer side effects,” he said. “This is such an improvement; like washing your laundry by hand versus your brand new Maytag.”

Fialkov said he has 12 of his own patients interested. Board member Ken Stults asked how often the treatment could be used in Creston. He speculated six times a month to start. He said there may be 4,000 people in a 50-mile radius of Creston who could benefit. The hospital in Ottumwa is the only other Iowa health care center providing Aquablation.

“If you’re not doing it, I’m going to Kansas City,” Fialkov said his informed patients have told him.

In other board news...

The board approved the purchaser of a new Kubota skidloader for $78,811.

Board members approved a contribution of $10,000 to Adams County Economic Development to improve the building at 729 Davis Ave. in Corning. How the building will be used has not been determined. The board also approved contributing $5,000 toward the Lenox walking trail.

Board member Julie Lanning was not in attendance.