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Thanks to the arrival of Jim C. Hu, MD, MPH, at BWH, patients undergoing radical prostatectomies potentially will experience an easier recuperation. Hu's expertise in robot-assisted minimally invasive surgical removal of the prostate will enable a shorter recovery time, less blood loss and decreased pain compared to more invasive surgical options.
Prior to joining BWH's Urology Division in the Department of Surgery in August, Hu completed a robotic and laparoscopic urologic oncology fellowship at the City of Hope Cancer Center in Duarte, CA, where he performed about 15 robot-assisted procedures a week. Hu will leverage that experience to build the Division's surgical caseload at BWH.
Hu successfully performed his first case here last Monday using the hospital's daVinci surgical robot, originally installed in 2000. Until now, daVinci has been used to assist other laparoscopic procedures, making Hu the first BWH surgeon to perform prostatectomies with the state-of-the art system.
Aside from an easier recuperation, non-invasive, robot-assisted prostatectomies are an option for prostate cancer patients who experience cancer recurrence following radiation. “Radiation affects a man's anatomy, and many urologists do not offer surgery as salvage therapy due to the increased risk of complications. However, the improved magnification and decreased blood loss provided by the robotic approach allow surgery to remain a treatment option,” Hu said.