Dr. James Bollinger, chief of Urology at Paoli Hospital, greets brothers Ray, left, and Terry McGowan. The McGowans underwent prostate surgery within days of each other after the hospital acquired the da Vinci robot.

Brothers undergo robotic prostate surgery in the same week at Paoli Hospital

PAOLI, Pa., July 2008 — Brothers Raymond (Ray) and Terrance (Terry) McGowan regard their prostate cancer diagnoses as coincidental, but they left nothing to chance in deciding upon their treatment—robotic-assisted minimally invasive surgery at Paoli Hospital.

When Raymond, 57, who works in the storage and distribution department at Paoli Hospital, learned he had prostate cancer earlier this year, he began exploring his treatment options. When he found out the hospital was acquiring the da Vinci® Surgical System, he postponed his surgery until the robot arrived.

“I researched it, and was sold on the benefits of the robot—recovery is quicker, there is less bleeding, and urinary and sexual functions return faster,” he said. “I wanted to be the first to have this surgery, and I wanted the surgery done at Paoli Hospital with Dr. Bollinger.”

(It should be noted that Ray and Terry McGowan have other Paoli Hospital connections: Terry’s wife, Debbie, has worked as a therapy aide in the Physical Medicine Department for 23 years; and their sister, Mary Keirsey, is a nurse manager with 32 years of service at the hospital.)

On June 12, older brother Ray got his wish. James R. Bollinger, MD, chief of Urology, removed his prostate using the sophisticated robotic arms and enhanced visualization of the da Vinci. Four days later, Dr. Bollinger operated on Terry, 51.

“It’s the surgery of the future,” said Terry, who coaches the women’s softball team at Ursinus College. “Anyone who needs to have their prostate removed should definitely consider the robotic-assisted surgery.”

Both men said the procedure lived up to their expectations. Only the strenuous nature of his job kept Ray from returning to work for two weeks. Terrance, on the other hand, went back to recruiting young women for the Ursinus team the week following his operation. “If I had the old, conventional way, I’d be in the hospital for five days and it would take three months to recover,” said Terry.

Dr. Bollinger said the progress of both men is typical of patients undergoing prostatectomies with the da Vinci. “The da Vinci allows the surgeon to perform complex, minimally invasive surgery with much more precision than with standard laparoscopic instruments,” explained Dr. Bollinger, whose has performed more than 50 procedures with the da Vinci robot.

The advantage of the da Vinci is its ability to deliver exceptional imaging and fine surgical maneuvers in delicate areas, such as the prostate, where it’s vital not to damage nearby nerves that control bladder and sexual function.

Recent studies suggest the da Vinci may improve cancer control and reduce the risk of urinary incontinence and impotence. “We feel the superior magnification that we have when we look at the prostate improves our chances of removing all the cancer,” said Dr. Bollinger, who noted that over the last three years, robotic prostatectomy has increased from 30 percent to 64 percent.

Also using the da Vinci for prostate cancer surgery in addition to Dr. Bollinger are William Merriam, MD, and Donald Anderson, MD; Thomas Lanchoney, MD, will be performing the surgery at Paoli Hospital in the near future.

“The da Vinci has made the experience for the patient and the surgeon much more gratifying because people are able to get back to their normal activities much quicker and they have much less discomfort,” Dr. Bollinger said. “It’s just a significant improvement.”

Before his surgery, Terrance “met” the robot when it was on display at the hospital and got to handle the controls for the robotic arms. “It was really exciting to see the da Vinci and get to ‘play’ with it,” he said. “When you think of it, how amazing is it to have surgery with the doctor across the room at the controls of a robot.”

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Editor’s note: Raymond and Terrance McGowan reside in Phoenixville, PA.

Media Contact:
Frieda Schmidt, Public Relations
610-526-8298

Published:8-1-2008