Laparoscopic radical prostatectomy
“Having undertaken more than 1,300 prostatectomies, I know the benefits this experience brings to my work in terms of outcomes for patients. I was one of the first surgeons in the UK to carry out keyhole prostatectomy in 2003.”
Alan Doherty, clinical director
Birmingham Prostate Clinic
Mr Alan Doherty, Clinical Director of Birmingham Prostate Clinic, is one of the most experienced surgeons in laparoscopic radical prostatectomy within the UK.
He has completed more than 1,300 prostectomies, removing the whole prostate following a diagnosis of prostate cancer.
Mr Doherty was one of the first surgeons to carry out the procedure as laparoscopic surgery, through tiny incisions rather than the large incisions used in open surgery.
Laparoscopic surgery offers the benefits of much reduced bleeding, far less soft tissue damage, a shorter stay in hospital followed by an easier and quicker recovery.
Experienced surgeon
This type of surgery is technically challenging and there are only a relatively small number of UK surgeons who have undertaken a large number of these operations.
Mr Doherty has carried out more than 600 laparoscopic prostatectomies, one of the largest caseloads in the UK.
The surgical outcomes of these operations have been carefully monitored and assessed. Please see our results section for extensive information about our patients’ post-operative PSA levels, continence rates and erectile dysfunction.
Nerve-sparing surgery
Mr Doherty also offers nerve-sparing laparoscopic prostatectomy, a technique developed to minimise erectile and continence difficulties after surgery.
Studies show that a surgeon’s laparoscopic prostatectomy experience has a significant impact upon outcomes for the patient.
A recent report for the Lancet Oncology (April 2009) assesses 4,702 patients with prostate cancer who had been treated with laparoscopic prostatectomy. It concludes: “Patients treated by surgeons with more experience had less recurrence of disease than those patients treated by less experienced colleagues.”
Lead author Andrew Vickers PhD comments: "We report an 8% difference in recurrence rates between experienced and inexperienced surgeons. Experienced surgeons have lower recurrence rates, so we need to learn what they are doing differently." The full study can be accessed in The Lancet.
Mr Alan Doherty has published his full results for radical laparoscopic prostatectomy surgery.