Artificial intelligence is continuing to move into places where every millimeter matters. Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem has begun using Hydros, the new generation of the AquaAblation technology for the treatment of benign prostate enlargement. Shaare Zedek is the first medical center in Israel and the third in Europe selected to operate the new system.
One of the first patients treated with the system was a man in his 50s who suffered from urinary retention and a significant deterioration in kidney function, eventually requiring a permanent catheter. Using the new system, Prof. Boris Chertin, director of the Urology Department, removed the enlarged prostate tissue. The patient was able to stop using the catheter, resumed normal urination and was discharged home after one day.
How is artificial intelligence used in prostate surgery in Jerusalem?
The Hydros system combines an advanced robotic platform, high-quality imaging and an artificial intelligence algorithm that assists the medical team in planning the procedure, mapping critical areas and removing tissue with a high level of precision. Shaare Zedek reports that procedures carried out in recent weeks have shown a reduction of at least 20% in operating time, along with a significant decrease in bleeding and faster recovery.
The technology is designed to treat benign prostate enlargement, a condition that can cause difficulty urinating and significantly affect quality of life. According to the hospital, the method is also intended to preserve sexual function as much as possible and, in some cases, allow patients to be discharged after just one night.
Why was Shaare Zedek chosen as the first hospital in Israel to use the new AquaAblation system?
Shaare Zedek’s urology division has accumulated extensive experience with AquaAblation, performing more than 1,000 procedures using the method over the past three years.
Prof. Chertin explained that the decision to choose Shaare Zedek to receive the new device represents “a tremendous vote of confidence in the clinical experience and excellence of our team.” He added that the system enables doctors to provide patients with “the most precise, safe and advanced treatment in the world,” while significantly reducing bleeding, accelerating recovery and helping patients return to their quality of life.
What other prostate treatments are available at Shaare Zedek in Jerusalem?
Alongside AquaAblation, the urology division is expanding its use of minimally invasive treatments. Among them is the UROLIFT system, in which small implants are inserted to widen the obstructed area of the prostate. The procedure is performed under light sedation and does not require general anesthesia.
According to Shaare Zedek, the treatment can allow patients to return home on the same day, without a catheter and without harming sexual function or fertility. The new technology is part of a broader move toward more targeted treatments, shorter procedures and reduced recovery time in hospital.
