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#MovemberRSA: Prostate bot surgery minimises erectile dysfunction
One of the primary fears in men undergoing prostatectomies is loss of erectile function, but with robotic surgery, 78%of patients of all ages return to full potency in nine months, compared to 61% in 18 months using conventional surgery. This figure is as high as 84% in younger patients,
Dr Lance Coetzee, from The Urology Hospital, Pretoria, highlights the success of three years of robotically assisted urological surgery at the hospital. He has performed 25% of 1,600 robotic prostatectomies in SA -- the highest by any one surgeon in the country.
“After three years, data shows that robotic surgery has reduced side effects significantly by lowering levels of incontinence and impotence. “Blood loss is dramatically lower – about 0,3% of my patients have required transfusions compared to the majority of patients with open surgery needing transfusions,” adds Coetzee. In addition, the recovery time in hospital is dramatically shorter.
It is estimated one in every 23 South African men will develop prostate cancer in their lifetime. According to the World Cancer Research Fund International, prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men worldwide.
