Aquablation: Robotic Surgery Arrives at SIH St. Joseph Memorial Hospital

Southern Illinois’ first Aquablation ® procedures mark the launch of robotic-assisted surgical technology at the Murphysboro hospital.

A historic milestone in robotic-assisted surgery has arrived at SIH St. Joseph Memorial Hospital.

On Monday, May 11, Don Arnold, MD, endourologist and chief of surgery at Southern Illinois Healthcare, successfully completed the first Aquablation® robotic-assisted procedures for enlarged prostate at the Murphysboro hospital. It not only marks the first Aquablation technology in Southern Illinois, but also the first-ever robotic surgery technology introduced at SIH St. Joseph Memorial Hospital.

Aquablation therapy uses robotic-assisted, heat-free waterjet technology combined with real-time ultrasound imaging to precisely remove excess prostate tissue causing urinary symptoms associated with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), commonly known as enlarged prostate.

“It’s significant because we’re the only hospital in the area that has this technology,” Dr. Arnold said. “This technology is a leap forward for men’s lower urinary tract disease with regard to surgery time, post-surgical complications and return to normal activity.”

Dr. Srinivas Rajamahanty, SIH urologist and robotic surgery specialist, said Aquablation represents the latest evolution in minimally invasive surgical care.

“This is a cutting-edge technology with a lot of advantages over previous modalities,” Dr. Rajamahanty said. “One of the most important benefits is patients can have minimal sexual side effects and minimal urinary side effects.”

Aquablation combines real-time ultrasound imaging with robotic precision, allowing surgeons to map each patient’s anatomy before treatment begins.

“It’s like having a high-definition GPS for the prostate,” said Ashley Dickerson, RN supervisor of the operating room at SIH St. Joseph Memorial Hospital. “We’re able to preserve the patient’s quality of life while removing exactly what tissue needs to be removed.”

For Dickerson and the surgical team, the launch represents more than a new procedure.

“By launching this program in Murphysboro, we’re proving that advanced care isn’t just for big city hospitals,” Dickerson said. “It shows that SIH is committed to ensuring geography never limits a patient’s access to advanced surgical care.”