MarinHealth Medical Center Surgeons Perform New AI-Powered Aquablation Procedure for the Treatment of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

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MarinHealth Medical Center Surgeons Perform New AI-Powered Aquablation Procedure for the Treatment of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia

2025-01-09 10:17 Last Updated At：10:31

GREENBRAE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan 8, 2025--

MarinHealth Medical Center ( MHMC ) announced today that its surgeons have performed the first Aquablation procedures to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). MarinHealth is among the few medical centers in the country that have obtained the most advanced version of this AI-enabled, minimally-invasive robotic technology.

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Aquablation combines high-definition ultrasound imaging and a precise high-pressure water jet controlled by AI-powered robotic technology to precisely remove prostate tissue. The procedure enables the urologist to tailor the treatment to the patient's specific anatomy, achieving optimal, durable surgical outcomes similar to those of more invasive procedures. Aquablation has been performed effectively and safely for men with prostate volumes too large for other minimally invasive procedures. In trials involving thousands of men with BPH symptoms, Aquablation has been shown to preserve all aspects of sexual function more effectively than previous technologies.

Aquablation therapy is specifically designed to treat BPH, providing relief from symptoms such as urinary urgency, frequent urination, and weak urine flow. It offers a less-invasive alternative to traditional surgical treatments, promising a better quality of life for those suffering from this condition. Patients often experience rapid symptom relief and a substantial improvement in their overall quality of life. The procedure's precision reduces the risk of complications, making it an optimal choice for individuals seeking treatment for BPH.

“The remarkable technology empowers urologists to leverage our surgical skills and experience with a combination of state-of-the-art ultrasound imaging and extremely rapid, precise tissue removal,” commented Patrick Bennett, MD. “Aquablation is a uniquely powerful tool, enabling us to provide a proven safe and effective treatment to a broad range of men bothered by urinary symptoms or medical complications related to BPH.”

The MarinHealth Urology team treats patients at four locations throughout Northern California, including Greenbrae, Novato, Napa, and Petaluma. To learn more about this innovative solution, go to MyMarinHealth.org/Aquablation.

This advanced AI-enabled technology was made possible by philanthropy from the MarinHealth Foundation and its generous donors.

About MarinHealth

MarinHealth is an integrated healthcare enterprise with deep roots in the North Bay. With a world-class physician and clinical team, an ever-expanding network of clinics, and a new state-of-the-art hospital, MarinHealth stops at nothing to help patients achieve their best health. MarinHealth is comprised of MarinHealth Medical Center, a 327-bed hospital located in the heart of Marin since 1952, the MarinHealth Medical Network with 60+ primary care and specialty clinics located in Marin, Sonoma, and Napa counties, and the MarinHealth Foundation. A long-time partnership with UCSF Health expands MarinHealth’s world-class capabilities and its portfolio of services to serve more of our North Bay community in new and better ways. For more information, visit MyMarinHealth.org.

Firefighters battle devastating Los Angeles wildfires as winds calm somewhat

2025-01-09 23:39 Last Updated At：23:40

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Firefighters battled early Thursday to control major fires in the Los Angeles area that have killed five people, ravaged communities from the Pacific Coast to Pasadena and caused thousands of people to frantically flee their homes.

Ferocious winds that drove the flames and prompted chaotic evacuations have calmed somewhat and are not expected to be as powerful during the day. That could provide an opportunity for firefighters to make progress in reining in blazes that have hopscotched across the sprawling region, including massive ones in Pacific Palisades and Altadena.

Flare-ups overnight illuminated the Santa Monica Mountains above Pacific Palisades. Homes continued to burn, but unlike the previous night when a fierce wind blew embers sideways and fueled new outbreaks, sparks mostly drifted upward.

The latest major threat broke out Wednesday evening in the Hollywood Hills, with flames striking closer to the heart of the city, the roots of the entertainment industry and putting densely populated neighborhoods on edge. Only about a mile away, the streets around the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the TCL Chinese Theatre and Madame Tussauds were bustling, and onlookers used their phones to record video of the blazing hills.

Within a few hours, firefighters made major progress on the Sunset Fire in the hills. Los Angeles Fire Department Capt. Erik Scott said they were able to keep the fire in check because “we hit it hard and fast and Mother Nature was a little nicer to us today than she was yesterday.”

On Wednesday, hurricane-force winds blew embers, igniting block after block in the coastal neighborhood of Pacific Palisades and in Altadena, a community near Pasadena. Aircraft were grounded for a time because of the winds, hampering firefighting efforts.

Nearly 2,000 homes, businesses and other structures have been destroyed in those blazes — called the Palisades and Eaton fires — and the number is expected to increase. The five deaths recorded so far were from the Eaton Fire near Pasadena.

More than 100,000 people are under evacuation orders, and the fires have consumed about 45 square miles (116 square kilometers) — roughly the size of the city of San Francisco. The Palisades Fire is already the most destructive in Los Angeles' history.

Jose Velasquez sprayed his family’s Altadena home with water as embers rained down on the roof. He managed to save their home, which also houses their family business selling churros, a Mexican pastry. Many of his neighbors were at work when they lost their homes.

“So we had to call a few people and then we had people messaging, asking if their house was still standing,” he said. “We had to tell them that it’s not.”

In Pasadena, Fire Chief Chad Augustin said the city's water system was stretched and was further hampered by power outages, but even without those issues, firefighters would not have been able to stop the fire due to the intense winds.

“Those erratic wind gusts were throwing embers for multiple miles ahead of the fire,” he said.

Still, questions were being raised about why some hydrants ran dry and what caused the water system to buckle when it was needed most.

The dramatic level of destruction was apparent in a comparison of satellite images before and after the fire.

About 250 homes in Altadena that had been dotted with green leafy trees were reduced to rubble. Only a few homes remained, some still in flames according to images from Maxar Technologies. Just a handful of 70 wall-to-wall homes overhanging the Pacific Ocean in Malibu appeared intact.

In Pacific Palisades, a hillside area along the coast dotted with celebrity homes, block after block of California Mission Style homes and bungalows were reduced to charred remains. Ornate iron railing wrapped around the smoldering frame of one house. Swimming pools were blackened with soot, and sports cars slumped on melted tires.

The main fires grew rapidly in different areas that had two things in common: densely packed homes in places that are choked with dry vegetation that was primed to burn.

Flames moved so quickly that many barely had time to escape, some abandoning their vehicles and setting out on foot. Police sought shelter inside their cars, and residents at a senior living center were pushed to safety in wheelchairs and hospital beds.

The flames tore through affluent neighborhoods home to California’s rich and famous.

Mandy Moore, Cary Elwes and Paris Hilton were among the stars who lost homes. Billy Crystal and his wife, Janice, lost their home of 45 years in the Palisades Fire.

“We raised our children and grandchildren here. Every inch of our house was filled with love. Beautiful memories that can’t be taken away," the Crystals said in a statement.

In Palisades Village, the public library, two major grocery stores, a pair of banks and several boutiques were destroyed.

“It’s just really weird coming back to somewhere that doesn’t really exist anymore,” said Dylan Vincent, who said his elementary school had burned down.

California’s wildfire season is beginning earlier and ending later due to rising temperatures and decreased rainfall tied to climate change, according to recent data. Rains that usually end fire season are often delayed, meaning fires can burn through the winter months, according to the Western Fire Chiefs Association.

Dry winds, including the notorious Santa Anas, have contributed to warmer-than-average temperatures in Southern California, which has not seen more than 0.1 inches (2.5 millimeters) of rain since early May.

Winds gusted at 80 mph (129 kph) Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service. Fire conditions could last through Friday, but wind speeds were expected to be lower on Thursday.

President Joe Biden signed a federal emergency declaration after arriving at a Santa Monica fire station for a briefing with Gov. Gavin Newsom, who dispatched National Guard troops to help.

Hollywood studios suspended production, and Universal Studios closed its theme park.

Several Southern California landmarks were heavily damaged, including the Reel Inn in Malibu, a seafood restaurant. Owner Teddy Leonard and her husband hope to rebuild.

“When you look at the grand scheme of things, as long as your family is well and everyone’s alive, you’re still winning, right?” she said.

Golden reported from Seattle and Watson from San Diego. Associated Press journalists Christopher Weber and Eugene Garcia in Los Angeles; Ethan Swope in Pasadena, California; John Seewer in Toledo, Ohio; Heather Hollingsworth in Mission, Kansas; Jeff Martin in Atlanta; Janie Har in San Francisco; Brian Melley in London; Kathy McCormack in Concord, New Hampshire; Sarah Brumfield in Cockeysville, Maryland; and Tammy Webber in Detroit contributed.