*dropoff window The research, recently published in the European Journal of Urology, showed 19 percent of patients regretted their treatment choice and patients who have had
robot-assisted surgery were most likely to be dissatisfied.
The authors suggest that regret is "possibly due to greater expectations of an" innovative process ".
Their conclusion is one for all urological surgeons to note. "We suggest that urologists carefully portray the risks and benefits of new technologies during preoperative counseling to minimize regret and maximize satisfaction."
In recent years, the treatment of prostate cancer was a fast developing field, providing patients with a wide range of choices.
Brachytherapy and HIFU offer non-surgical options for those who want the surgery, there are open, laparoscopic and nerve-sparring options, depending on your diagnosis and treatment provider.
At the same time, patients are becoming more proactive, using the Internet to research and examine the options themselves, as well as traditional consultation with the urologist.
Increased choice is undoubtedly a positive effect on patients, but as urology centers - both private and NHS - seek to attract patients, we have a responsibility to advise on the pros and cons of treatment .dropoff window There is a distinctive risk when a procedure is perceived as new and especially "innovative".
The media will always be interested in the next "pioneering operation", particularly one that involves robots.
A newspaper article will tend to portray the new procedure as an immaculate solution, which corrects all the risks and disadvantages of other procedures.
As surgeons, we have a responsibility to provide patients with a more sober and informative picture, acknowledging the limitations as well as advantages.
The study of patient satisfaction was based on responses from 400 men who underwent radical prostatectomy (RRP) or robot-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy between 2000 and 2007 in the United States.
The report also examined patients urinary domain scores, hormonal domain scores and found scores were independently linked with regret.
It is still too early to robotic surgery in the UK. In surgery for prostate cancer, there are currently six Da Vinci robotic machines in the UK, against 350 in America.
There is no evidence that the current robotic surgery provides better results for patients in terms of urinary symptoms, sexual function or post-operative risk and postoperative complications.
It seems certain that robotic surgery will increase in the UK during the next decade, with NHS and private centers that buy the Da Vinci machines.
This will give even more choice for patients, which is in principle a positive development.
It is however essential that patients receive accurate and complete information to enable them to make an informed choice, rather than simply being over-sell a new product.
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