Robot-assisted radical prostatectomy has become a standard of care for prostate cancer in developed countries and the same was successfully performed on a Mumbai resident on Monday by doctors of Ruby Hall Clinic in the city.
Edward Pinto, 67, was able to walk on his feet just 12 hours after the surgery. According to doctors, Pinto is now free from the disease and his post-operative biopsy showed that the entire tumour was excised and the lymph nodes and margins were also cleared thereby negating his risk of cancer.
A radical prostatectomy is an operation to remove the prostate gland and some of the tissues around it. It is performed to remove prostate cancer altogether or alleviate its risk. Robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy is done through small incisions in the belly with robotic arms that translate the surgeon’s hand motions into finer and more precise action. It has transformed the options for men diagnosed with or with high risk of localised prostate cancer.
Dr Himesh Gandhi, consultant urologist, Ruby Hall Clinic, who performed the procedure robotically for the first time in city, said, “Pinto was diagnosed with high risk prostate cancer and reports showed extremely high prostatespecific antigen levels, an indicator of prostate cancer. Biopsies further showed the presence of an adenocarcinoma. However, since he was otherwise relatively healthy, he became a perfect candidate for this procedure.”
The complex surgery, which lasted for about four hours, consisted of a robotic radical prostatectomy as well as a bilateral pelvic lymph node dissection.
“Over the last two decades, there has been revolutionary improvement in medical surgical technology. Robotic surgery has resulted in a positive impact on prostate cancer treatment and prostatectomy. We were very happy to note that the patient began walking just 12 hours after the surgery. Moreover, he had minimal pain and was even discharged on the third post-operative day on August 17,” added Gandhi.
Patient’s son Ryan shared, “After the operation, my dad was doing his routine work. He showed no postsurgery complications. We were waiting for the post-operative report, and are happy that the surgery was successful.”
Dr Snita Sinukumar, consultant surgical oncologist, Jehangir Hospital, informed, “Prostatectomy surgeries are suggested to only select patients suffering from prostate cancer. The patients need to fulfil criteria like high risk, need to be healthy and should not have any other co-morbidity or lymph nodes. In cases of patient of prostate disease that are not appropriate for the surgery, they are treated with radiation and hormonal therapy. The prostate tumour is one of the surgeries which are best suited for robots in comparison to open surgeries.”