Language
Country/Area
No result found
The Curious History of Prostatectomy: Who Was the First Challenger
Prostatectomy is a surgical procedure to remove all or part of the prostate. The surgery dates back to the 19th century and was first performed by William Belfield in 1885. With the development of medical technology, this surgery is not only used for benign diseases such as urinary tract obstruction or benign prostatic hyperplasia, but also becomes an important treatment option for prostate cancer patients. This article will explore the evolution of prostatectomy and its impact on the medical community.
Prostatectomy can be divided into simple resection and radical resection. Simple resection removes only part of the prostate and is mainly used for benign diseases, while radical resection removes the entire prostate and surrounding tissues and is usually used in cancer cases.
History of Prostatectomy
William Bellfield is widely credited with performing the first planned prostatectomy in the 19th century, which took place at Cook County Hospital in Chicago. Over time, more surgeons became involved in the development of prostatectomy. In 1904, Hugh H. Young and William Stewart Halsted developed the open radical resection procedure at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, which paved the way for the subsequent The surgery set the stage.
In 1945, Irish surgeon Terence Millin developed a radical abdominal resection, which became a breakthrough in the treatment of prostate cancer. As technology continued to improve, the use of radical prostatectomy increased significantly during the 1980s and 1990s.
Surgical Technique
Prostatectomy can be performed using a variety of techniques, including open surgery and minimally invasive surgery. Open surgery usually involves a large incision through the lower abdomen or anus to reach the prostate. Minimally invasive surgery is a robot-assisted surgery that is performed through small incisions. This method is favored because of its small trauma and quick recovery.
According to research, the skill level of the surgeon has a significant impact on surgical outcomes and complication rates. The greater the number of procedures a physician performs, the better surgical outcomes for patients are generally.
Surgical risks and complications
Like all surgical procedures, prostatectomy has potential risks and complications. These may include bleeding, infection, blood clots, heart attack or stroke, among others. Especially for patients who undergo radical resection, they may be at risk for sexual dysfunction or urinary incontinence. According to one study, the incidence of erectile dysfunction after surgery is over 50%.
Reverse ejaculation is also a common problem, meaning that the patient will not be able to ejaculate normally after surgery. This is an important consideration for men who wish to maintain their fertility.
The future of prostatectomy
As medical technology continues to advance, attempts are made to improve surgical techniques to reduce the likelihood of complications. New minimally invasive surgical techniques have further advanced the evolution of prostatectomy. In addition, innovative approaches have been demonstrated for the management of postoperative dysfunction, including medication and physical therapy.
ConclusionThe cost of prostatectomy is quite high in the United States, with one study showing that the average hospital stay costs $34,720, which is unaffordable for many uninsured patients.
Through a century of development, prostatectomy has continued to evolve and become an important means of treating prostate cancer and other related diseases. Among the many challengers, the first doctor who successfully theorized this operation undoubtedly made a great contribution to the medical community. So, what new breakthroughs can these technologies bring in future medical advances?
