Member News Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 8, 2009

100th Robotic Assisted Prostatectomy Performed at Provena Saint Joseph Medical

Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center reached a healthcare milestone as the 100th robotic assisted prostatectomy was performed on April 1, also known as April Fool’s Day.

However, being diagnosed with prostate cancer is nothing to fool around with. According to the American Cancer Society, 1 in 6 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime. Early diagnosis offers the best odds for survival, so does the region’s only robotic surgery program offered only at Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center.

It has been just over a year that Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center started offering the surgical technology and the results have been astonishing. Original plans had estimated that there would be approximately 30 men in the community using this service in the first year, but as the numbers show, there is clearly a greater need and patients coming from a much wider region.

"Traditionally, doctors and patients are faced with just two options for surgical removal of the prostate: traditional open surgery or conventional laparoscopy. Both procedures have been proven to effectively treat prostate cancer. Open surgery, however, requires a six to eight inch abdominal incision associated with significant post-operative pain and discomfort, as well as an extended convalescence time of six to eight weeks.

On the other hand, laparoscopic prostatectomy removes the prostate using four or five half-inch incisions and has therefore been shown to be associated with decreased post-operative pain, shorter hospital stays, and quicker recovery times. Due to the limitations of conventional laparoscopic instruments, however, laparoscopic prostatectomy is an extremely demanding, technically challenging procedure to perform," says Thai Nguyen, MD, urology, fellowship trained laparoscopic surgeon at Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center. "Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center is pleased to give patients another option with the da Vinci Surgical System."

The da Vinci Surgical System is a state-of-the-art robotic platform that allows surgeons to perform difficult laparoscopic surgeries with ease and precision not afforded by conventional laparoscopy. The system uses detailed, three-dimensional high-definition video imaging, allowing surgeons to see critical anatomic structures at ten to fifteen times magnification. Preservation of these “structures” is important to avoid damage to sensitive organs that control body functions like bladder control and sexual function. In addition to providing the ability to see structures invisible to the naked eye, the system also provides surgeons with enhanced dexterity, precision, and control which are unparalleled by conventional laparoscopic instruments.

"We are committed to continuing to bring state-of-the-art care closer to home," says Jeffrey Brickman, FACHE, System Senior Vice President and CEO for Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center. "We are using the da Vinci for prostatectomies and other urologic applications and in December 2008, began performing robotic assisted hysterectomies. In the future, we are looking to utilize this technology for obstetrics, bariatric, and many other surgical procedures. Formerly, this option was only available closer to Chicago. We are proud to offer such advanced technology closer to the communities we serve."

Robotic assisted surgery allows surgeons to offer a wider range of minimally invasive surgeries, which in turn, provides patients with a much safer and more comfortable recovery due to the reduced trauma to the body. The da Vinci Surgical System's magnified image allows for better identification of tiny blood vessels resulting in reduced blood loss during operations. The smaller incisions required by da Vinci surgery is associated with reduced risk of infection, less scarring, and a shorter hospital stay. Overall, patients notice they have a much faster recovery than with traditional surgeries and are able to return to their daily activities much quicker than ever before.

Additional Prostate Health Information
Learn about prostate health and the latest methods to detect and treat prostate cancer at a free Prostate Health Education Program on April 14 at 6:30 p.m. To register for the event call Provena Health Connections at 815-725-9438 or visit www.provena.org/stjoes/davinci.

About Thai Nguyen, MD
Thai T. Nguyen, MD, of Advanced Urology Associates, is the only surgeon in the region who is fellowship trained in performing robotic prostatectomy. Dr. Nguyen was a 2008 finalist for Physician of the Year. Dr. Nguyen attended Yale Univeristy, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts in Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry. He was awarded his Doctor of Medicine degree at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School. He completed his urology residency at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, where he also completed a laparoscopic surgery and endourology fellowship. He is board certified by the American Board of Urology, and is a member of the American Urological Association, the Endourological Society, and the North Central Section of the American Urological Association. For further biographical information, visit www.advuro.com.