KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Dr. Yaser S. Bassel, MD, is a board-certified urologist in Tampa, FL, and an expert in robotic prostatectomy.
- Robotic prostatectomy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure for prostate cancer that is typically recommended for younger patients with a long life expectancy.
- The recovery process after a robotic prostatectomy is relatively short, with patients spending one night in the hospital and using a catheter for one to two weeks.
Introduction: The Urologist and Robotic Prostatectomy
Yaser S. Bassel, MD, a board-certified urologist in Tampa, FL, practices at Advanced Urology Institute, the largest urology practice in Florida. In this article, Dr. Bassel explains robotic prostatectomy, a surgical procedure used to treat prostate cancer, and highlights its benefits, patient eligibility, and recovery process.
Understanding Robotic Prostatectomy
Robotic prostatectomy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure that employs advanced robotic technology to remove the cancerous prostate gland. This method is favored for younger patients with a long life expectancy and a good prognosis for functional recovery. One of the major benefits of robotic prostatectomy is the immediate decrease in prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels, indicating the effective removal of prostate cancer.
Eligibility for Robotic Prostatectomy
Dr. Bassel emphasizes that robotic prostatectomy is typically recommended for younger patients who have a long life expectancy. This is because these patients are more likely to experience a good recovery of function following the procedure. The immediate results in terms of PSA levels make it a favorable option for this demographic.
Recovery Process and Timeline
The recovery time after a robotic prostatectomy is relatively short. Patients typically spend just one night in the hospital and return home with a catheter that remains in place for one to two weeks. After the catheter is removed, patients follow up with their urologist in three months to begin PSA surveillance and monitor the effectiveness of the treatment.
Advanced Urology Institute: A Leader in Urological Care
As the largest urology practice in Florida, the Advanced Urology Institute provides comprehensive care for patients dealing with a wide range of urological issues, including prostate cancer. With a team of experienced, board-certified urologists like Dr. Yaser Bassel, patients can expect state-of-the-art treatment options like robotic prostatectomy and compassionate, personalized care.
TRANSCRIPTION:
My name is Yaser Bassel. I’m a board-certified urologist with Advanced Urology Institute.
When you’re talking about robotic prostatectomy, we typically lean towards doing that in the
younger patients who have a long life expectancy and those patients that we expect to have good recovery of function. The good part about that is you have immediate results with regards to the PSA, with the prostate cancer being removed from the body and the initial PSA is going to zero, hopefully after the treatment. In that case, the recovery time after a robotic prostatectomy usually is relatively small. You’re typically looking at one night in the hospital and those patients going home with the catheter for one to two weeks that is then removed. At that time, you know, we have patients follow up in three months to start their PSA surveillance at that point following treatment.
REFERENCES:
- “Robotic Radical Prostatectomy – Cleveland Clinic.” https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/17447-robotic-radical-prostatectomy.
- “Following PSA Levels During and After Prostate Cancer Treatment.” 1 Aug. 2019, https://www.cancer.org/cancer/prostate-cancer/treating/psa-levels-after-treatment.html.
- “PSA Level After Prostatectomy: What Does Your Number Mean?.” 7 Dec. 2021, https://www.webmd.com/prostate-cancer/psa-level-after-prostatectomy.
