News & Media

February, 2005


FATIMA HOSPITAL PERFORMS INNOVATIVE SURGICAL TREATMENT
FOR PROSTATE CANCER

(North Providence, RI) Surgeons at Our Lady of Fatima Hospital in North Providence have completed the state's first Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy, a new and minimally invasive procedure to remove the prostate gland.

The procedure, a standard first-line treatment for prostate cancer, involves several small incisions made in the lower abdomen. Using specially designed instruments and cameras, providing magnified 3-D images, surgeons are afforded precise control and dynamic visibility for the operation.

The advantages of this procedure over the standard open surgical radical prostatectomy include less pain, a briefer and less intense post-operative recovery, less blood loss, fewer complications with incontinence and sexual dysfunction and improved cosmetic result.

Dr. L. Eric Olsson performed the procedure with Drs. Steven Colagiovanni and Richard Tomolonis assisting.

"This new procedure represents the first significant advance in surgical intervention for prostate cancer in many years," said Dr. Olsson. "Since surgical intervention is more desirable in younger males, this new option will be welcome news to the hundreds of Rhode Island men who are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year."

"We are thrilled to bring endoscopic prostate technology to Rhode Island, which up until now has only been available at limited magnet facilities," added Dr. Colagiovanni. "This is proof again that our state continues to attract top-notch physicians and specialists in their field offering the very latest medical procedures."

Drs. Colagiovanni and Olsson are urological surgeons with Consultants in Urology in Johnston. Dr. Tomolonis is a general surgeon with Rocchio-Phillips Surgical Group, also in Johnston.

In addition, this procedure was performed at the hospital's Louis E. Gelineau Surgical Pavilion, one of the region's newest and most sophisticated operating suites. This facility combines the very latest technology and procedures in a state of the art environment to improve patient outcomes, safety and confidentiality.

More than 180,000 men in the United States will be diagnosed with prostate cancer this year. For many of them, surgery is the treatment of choice. Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy is an option for men up to the age of 70.