| FREQUENTLY
ASKED QUESTIONS |
| |
| GENERAL |
| Q: How many procedures has
Dr. Fagin done? |
| A: Dr. Fagin
has performed over 900 /Laparoscopic/ daVinci prostate
cancer surgeries (as of January 2005 + 2006). He continues
to perform over 20 laparoscopic daVinci prostate cancer
surgeries every month and in 2005 performed more daVinci
prostate surgeries than other Urologist in Texas and was
#8 in the Nation in daVinci surgical volume. Dr. Fagin
has been the invited guest to perform this operation for
international audiences of Urologists and continues to
teach surgeons from around the country his techniques.
Dr. Fagin learned laparoscopic prostate cancer surgery
from the originators of the technique in Paris, France
and continues to work to bring the highest level of care
to his patients by traveling the country to learn and
share techniques and theories with the other high volume
daVinci surgeons. In addition, he runs a daVinci case
observation training program in Austin where surgeons
from around the country come to learn from him his techniques.
|
| Q: Does the daVinci robotic
approach result in a higher cancer cure rate than conventional
surgery? |
| A:
Because of the precision of the technique and the magnification
of the daVinci laparoscopic camera, the completeness of
cancer removal is reported in the literature to be as
good as open surgery and in some reported series higher
than open surgery. |
| Q:
How long does the operation take? |
| A:
Barring unusual circumstances, in Dr. Fagin’s hands
the total procedure takes less than 1½ hours. |
| |
| PRE-OPERATIVE |
| Q: Will I need
to donate my own blood to have on hand during surgery
if the need for a transfusion arises? |
| A:
One of the many benefits of the daVinci robotic approach
is minimal loss of blood. In over 500 daVinci and laparoscopic
cases, Dr. Fagin has transfused one percent of patients
having this surgery. Therefore, it is not necessary to
donate your blood. |
| Q: Will this
operation render me sterile? |
| A:
Yes, all patients undergoing radical prostatectomy will
not be able to father children after the procedure. However,
the nerves that give the ability to have erections can
be sparing allowing many patients to continue to have
erections and climax after the surgery. |
| |
| POST-OPERATIVE |
| Q: How long
can I expect to stay in the hospital after the procedure? |
| A:
Almost all of Dr. Fagin’s daVinci robotic prostatectomy
patients have been able to go home the day after surgery.
|
| Q: After the
daVinci robotic prostate surgery, when will I be able
to resume normal activities? |
| A:
One of the advantages of the daVinci robotic approach
is decreased pain which results in easier recuperation.
Thus, most individuals undergoing this operation will
be able to resume light activities within 23 hours of
surgery and can resume full unrestricted activity in 3
weeks. However, each individual heals at his own rate.
You should listen to your body, and do what it tells you
do to. |
| Q: After the
daVinci robotic prostate surgery, will I be able to have
normal sexual relations immediately after surgery? |
| A:
No. Even when the nerves are preserved, it takes time
for them to heal and function. With Dr. Fagin’s
extended nerve sparing technique many patients are able
to return to sexual activity but this recovery varies
based on the patient’s age, whether one or both
nerves were spared, and what their pre-surgical level
of erectile function is. |
| |
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| |
