Congress Abstracts 2005

182

LATEST SURGICAL INTERVENTION FOR PROSTATE CANCER: LAPAROSCOPIC RADICAL PROSTATECTOMY. Dominique Depalma, RN, OCN^®, MA, and Anna Giallo-Uvino, RN, BSN, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY.

This presentation will inform oncology nurses about the latest surgical technique for clinically localized prostate cancer called the Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy (LRP). Oncology nurses play a vital role in educating patients about this new and evolving surgical intervention. This presentation will provide an overview of the LRP and the patient education required in the preoperative and postoperative phase of care.

American Cancer Society predicts there will be approximately 230,900 newly diagnosed cases of prostate cancer this year. Treatment modalities for prostate cancer include surgery, radiation, hormonal and expectant therapy. Standard practice for those men opting for surgery is the Retropubic Radical Prostatectomy (RRP), which is removal of the prostate gland, seminal vesicals and the surrounding tissue. Now patients have the option of choosing the most recent surgical intervention, the LRP, which is removal of the same anatomical structures as the RRP but is done under the magnification of a laparoscope. Studies indicate that this approach offers a precise operative dissection that is proven to be comparable to the RRP for local tumor control and biochemical recurrence. Advantages of the LRP over RRP include decreased blood loss, less pain, smaller incisions with a shorter hospital stay and recovery time.

Nursing education is essential to prepare patients on what to expect postoperatively. Educational components include an overall description of the procedure, postoperative care and follow up plan. It is essential that oncology nurses thoroughly review with the patient the possible treatment complications specific to the LRP. The most frequent complications similar to the RRP are urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction.

Nursing education is fundamental in improving patient outcomes for patients undergoing LRP. Patients who are educated on the surgical pathway will take part in preventive measures to decrease postoperative complications and seek early intervention, if needed.

The LRP approach in experience hands offers adequate tumor control and a quality of life similar to open surgery. Oncology nurses need to be current on the LRP which is the most up-to-date surgical intervention available for clinically localized prostate cancer. Nurses that are well informed can adequately educate patients throughout the spectrum of care.