University Hospital offers advanced prostate cancer treatment

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University Hospital has added yet another advancement for prostate cancer care. The Newark hospital said March 31 it recently performed the first single-port robotic radical prostatectomy and single-port robotic partial nephrectomy. 

This minimally invasive surgery follows the August 2022 addition of the transperineal prostate biopsy procedure, which can improve diagnosis and reduce the chance of infection. 

An extension of laparoscopic surgery – procedures performed through small incisions in the abdomen – single-port robotic technology from Intuitive enables surgical instruments to be inserted through a single, 2-inch incision. This means faster recovery and reduced surgical pain, as well as better cosmetic results, reduced blood loss during surgery and shorter hospital stays, according to University Hospital, which is New Jersey’s academic medical center and the principal teaching hospital for Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. 

Dr. Evan Kovac – an associate professor; member of the Department of Surgery, Division of Urology at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School; and a member of the University Hospital Medical Staff – performed the first of these surgeries. 

“The positive elements of single-port surgery are numerous and extend beyond patient care,” Kovac said in a statement. “Larger and more numerous incisions lead to longer hospital stays, greater pain, and a need for stronger pain medications, all of which we, as medical professionals, are working to reduce or eliminate. With this single-port robotic surgery technique, we are working to get patients home the same day, allowing patients to recover at home and reduce the stress on the healthcare system.” 

This new technique is now available to patients for the treatment of urological cancers, including prostate and kidney cancer. 

According to the most recently available statistics, men in Essex County – where Newark is located – have a higher death rate from prostate cancer compared with the rest of the state. The New Jersey Department of Health notes the county’s rate is 19.6 deaths per 100,000 males vs. the state’s overall rate of 16.2 per 100,000. In an effort to improve these numbers, the combination of the transperineal prostate biopsy procedure and the single-port robotic surgery aims for better patient outcomes. 

“As part of our commitment to offer the latest technological advancements to our patients, University Hospital is excited to introduce this latest option in robotic-assisted surgery to the Newark community and the region,” added University Hospital President and CEO Ed Jimenez.