BEAUMONT, ROYAL OAK FIRST IN MICHIGAN TO PERFORM ROBOTIC NERVE SPARING SURGERY FOR TESTICULAR CANCER

A surgical team at Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak performed a robotic-assisted nerve sparing retroperitoneal lymphadenctomy for testicular cancer on Feb. 29.

The patient, a 41-year old Warren man, is doing well and was released from the hospital on March 2.

The procedure was led by urologist Sanjeev Kaul, M.D., a robotic surgical specialist.

“Our team is pleased with the outcome of the surgery. We removed all the lymph nodes in the abdomen while protecting the patient’s nerves. The nerve function is critical for ejaculation and overall sexual health. Testicular cancer typically affects men in their 20s, 30s and 40s, hence preserving their sexual function and ability to have children is important,” explains Dr. Kaul.

As with other minimally invasive robotic procedures, the incisions are much smaller, resulting in less blood loss, less pain and a faster recovery. Patients return to work in two weeks.

Retroperitoneal lymph node dissection, or RPLND, is considered to be one of the most difficult operations in urology. A traditional open surgery for testicular cancer requires a large abdominal incision with a hospital stay of seven to 10 days and a recovery of two to three months. The robotic procedures require five small incisions or ports with a hospital stay of two days.

Dr. Kaul says only a handful of medical centers in the U.S. have reported robotic-assisted nerve sparing surgeries for testicular cancer.

According to the National Cancer Institute, testicular cancer is most common in young and middle-aged men. They estimate 8,500 new cases will be diagnosed in 2012. Testicular cancer develops in the tissue of one or both testicles. The testicles produce sperm and the male hormone testosterone.

Beaumont urologists offer endoscopic, robotic and laparoscopic surgical options as well as traditional surgeries. They also specialize in treatment for kidney stones; painful bladder conditions such as overactive bladder and incontinence; sexual dysfunction; urologic cancer; prostate conditions; male infertility; voiding dysfunction; and erectile dysfunction. Beaumont, Royal Oak is ranked on U.S. News & World Report’s “America’s Best Hospitals” 2011-12 list for urology.

# # #