Mr Alan Doherty, founder of Birmingham Prostate Clinic, has recently undertaken his 300th keyhole prostatectomy.

The landmark operation underlines Mr Doherty’s status as one of the UK’s pioneers of this type of surgery, known as the laparoscopic prostatectomy.

A prostatectomy involves the complete removal of the prostate and has traditionally been undertaken as open surgery.

Keyhole surgery, in which tiny incisions are made rather than the large cuts necessary in open surgery, means patients recover far more quickly from the operation. Patients are also less likely to face long term complications, such as incontinence.

Mr Doherty now uses a special surgical glue to seal the incisions, so patients are free from any external stitching.

This form of prostate surgery is technically challenging and only carried out by a small number of specialists across the country.
Mr Doherty has now carried out a total of 600 prostatectomies, including both open and keyhole operations.

“I’m delighted to have reached this landmark which demonstrates how the laparoscopic prostatectomy has become the surgery of choice for patients, who are able to make a far better and more rapid recovery compared with open surgery,” commented Mr Doherty.