FAQs
- Why is a robotic prostatectomy better than open or laparoscopic?
- Are there any disadvantages to robotic prostatectomy?
- What can I expect before and after robotic prostatectomy?
- What about impotence and incontinence?
- Am I a Candidate to Participate In a Clinical Research Study?
- What is a robotic pyeloplasty?
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Our Robotic Surgery RESEARCH
Learn more about Dr. Engel
Learn more about Dr. Frazier
Am I a Candidate to Participate In a Clinical Research Study?
Drs. Frazier and Engel, as early adopters of robotic technology, have always been committed to following their series of robotic prostatectomies very closely. Nearly every one of our patients has contributed in some way to our research. As you can see in our research section on this site, we have used our data to report on our complication rates, our recurrence rates, our positive margin rates, and our incidence of bladder neck contracture. We regularly report interesting cases, as evidenced in our upcoming review article on pseudoaneurysms of the urinary tract following minimally invasive urologic surgery. Feel free to review our manuscripts to learn more.
Dr. Engel in particular has been highly involved in prospective clinical research trials. His direct involvement with the MUSE RP-01 trial is rapidly evolving him into one of the leaders in the field of post-prostatectomy impotence research. Although this trial is currently closed for new enrollment, Drs. Engel and Frazier will always seeks to have an ongoing therapies and trials designed to maximize potency beyond standard management after prostatectomy. Patients with excellent erections before surgery, without other co-morbidities will be offered participation in another trial involving daily use of a vacuum erection device coupled with Cialis three times a week for the first year after surgery. Patients are not forced or pressured in any way to participate in a trial, but are actively encouraged to participate as we only offers trials that will serve to augment the response to standard penile rehabilitation protocols. Also, participants in a trial generally benefit from free devices or medication. Please click on the link below to be taken to the clinical research page of our main site to learn more or download forms.
Drs. Frazier and Engel also are participating in a prospective research study involving the utility and effect of placing a special stitch as part of the reconstruction of the bladder and urethra after prostate removal. We are testing the hypothesis that this stitch shortens the time to continence after prostatectomy, and this has never been studied in robotic prostatectomy. This study is ongoing, and patients will be asked to consent to this in the pre-operative area before surgery by our clinical fellow. There is no risk to the patient in participating, and as this stitch has never really been proven to make a real difference in continence in a large, well-controlled study. Patients should have no strong opinion as to whether they have the stitch placed or not. Patients should remember that the strongest determinant of post-operative continence is the ability to perform a perfect "turtle" exercise, and not whether any particular stitch is placed. Patients that are enrolled in this study will have the added benefit of having a free visit at six weeks after surgery with our clinical fellow where their psa will be checked. They will still see Dr. Engel or Frazier at the three month point for a psa and every three months thereafter for the first year.