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A NORTH Hampshire surgeon has led research into a type of prostate cancer operation which reveals that success rates are determined by the experience of the surgeon.

The findings of Christopher Eden, consultant urologist at BMI The Hampshire Clinic, in Basing Road, Old Basing, have been published in the British Journal of Urology.

He said they demonstrate that the effectiveness of the minimal access operation is more dependent on the experience of the surgeon than the type of operating technique used.

The surgeon, who has performed more than 1,000 radical prostatectomies, said: "Minimal access techniques have achieved great popularity over the past five years, offering patients greater surgical precision and less post-operative complications, but patients need to be aware of how proficient their surgeon is, however the surgery is to be performed."

Mr Eden recommended that a patient should know how many prostatectomies their consultant regularly carries out, as it is likely to affect the outcome for them.

"A high surgical volume is necessary for any complex operation, such as a radical prostatectomy, as increased experience improves surgical precision," said Mr Eden.

Mr Eden added that it takes a surgeon between 500 to 700 operations to perfect the procedure, that removes the entire prostate in such a way as to reduce blood loss, post-operative discomfort and shorten convalescence.

11:31am Tuesday 13th May 2008

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