Laparoscopic prostate surgery is a new technology that has proven effective in treating prostate cancer, seemingly as effective as traditional surgery used for prostate removal. Men who have to have their prostates removed have quicker recovery times due to the increasing use of laparoscopic prostate surgery
The Procedure
The surgeon begins the procedure by making five small incisions in the patient. The first is made below the belly button. The remaining four incisions are made on either side of the lower abdomen. The abdomen is inflated so that the surgeon can better see the abdominal cavity. This is done by passing carbon dioxide through the incision into the abdominal cavity. The surgeon then inserts a tiny camera into the abdomen in order to oversee the entire surgery.
Half of all patients are discharged within a day after going through laparoscopic prostate surgery. The other half of patients are usually discharged after two days. Laparoscopic prostate surgery has several benefits over traditional surgery including less bleeding, allowing the catheter to be removed sooner, and allowing the patient to resume normal daily activities, including work, within only two or three weeks after the surgery.
Risks of Laparoscopic Prostate Surgery
The risks of laparoscopic prostate surgery can include incontinence, impotence, excessive bleeding, infection, or permanent intestinal damage. The intestines are disabled for the time of the procedure. Any scar tissue, infections, and abdominal diseases could all cause negative effects on the laparoscopic prostate surgery.
Laparoscopic prostate surgery may not always be the correct procedure. Any history of hormone treatment or previous laparoscopic pelvic surgery makes the patient ineligible for laparoscopic prostate surgery. If the patient has prostate cancer, which has spread outside the prostate, he or she is ineligible. If an infection of some kind is present within the abdomen then the patient is ineligible. If the patient meets any of these conditions the surgeon cannot provide laparoscopic prostate surgery. If he or she does so it is a violation of the generally accepted standard of care. This means that the surgeon is liable for any harm done to the patient and can be sued for medical malpractice.
Legal Assistance
Depending on the state the surgery was performed in, certain requirements must be met before an individual can file for a medical malpractice lawsuit against the offending party. Requirements often dictate that the individual must file a complaint with the offending party before he or she can file a lawsuit with the court. The court can award the individual with damages that include medical expenses, pain and suffering, loss of income, and in the case of a wrongful death damages for any funeral expenses or compensation to the family for emotional suffering. Medical malpractice cases tend to be very complex and it is recommended that the individual hire an attorney specializing in medical malpractice. An attorney will be able to advise the patient on the law, the validity of the case, and estimate the amount of damage the individual may receive.