Minimally Invasive Prostate Surgery Shortens Recovery, Reduces Side Effects

A shorter hospital stay, less discomfort, reduced side effects and a quicker return to normal activity are among the patient benefits of minimally invasive prostate cancer surgery at Bridgeport Hospital.

Using laparoscopic instruments, Bridgeport Hospital urologists can surgically remove a cancerous prostate gland by making only four to five tiny incisions (each less than a half-inch), compared with an incision of at least eight inches for traditional prostate surgery. The new procedure is known as laparoscopic radical prostatectomy.

“The laparoscopic approach represents the latest evolution in the quest for making surgical treatment of prostate cancer easier and more precise for the patient,” said Dr Edward Paraiso, who performed Fairfield County’s first laparoscopic prostate removal in June with fellow urologist Dr Robert Weinstein.

During laparoscopic surgery, surgeons are guided by a high-precision camera placed into the tiny “key-hole” incisions. Specialized surgical instruments are placed in the same incisions to remove the prostate gland.

The enhanced view provided by a laparoscopic camera allows surgeons to avoid nerves and arteries that, if damaged, could lead to impotence and incontinence, both common side effects of traditional prostate removal surgery. Because of the smaller incisions, patients also experience less blood loss during laparoscopic surgery.

“We are excited to offer this latest procedure to our patients,” said Dr Arthur Pinto, the hospital’s chief of urology, who also performs laparoscopic prostate surgery. “However, not every patient with prostate cancer is an appropriate candidate for the laparoscopic procedure. All options need to be considered and a final decision about treatment should be made only after a thorough discussion with a urologist.”

Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed type of cancer in the United States, according to the American Cancer Society. More than 220,000 men are expected to be diagnosed with the disease in 2003. By comparison, about 211,000 women are expected to be diagnosed with breast cancer.

Fortunately, prostate cancer is highly treatable through a combination of methods, including surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.