Patients and the ProPep AdvantageIf current nerve sparing procedures are successful, then why do
38% – 40% of patients experience SEXUAL DYSFUNCTION
20% – 44% of patients experience URINARY INCONTINENCE
Sexual dysfunction and urinary incontinence are both common side effects following prostate cancer surgery. Inadvertent nerve injury occurring during the surgery is believed to be one of the primary causes.Using nerve monitoring technology that has been the Standard of Care in multiple surgical procedures for over 20 years, the ProPep® Nerve Monitoring System brings the same instant and accurate information regarding nerve location and function to laparoscopic and robotic prostatectomy surgery for the first time ever.
For patients, this means that surgeons using nerve monitoring have additional information during the operation that may help them reduce inadvertent damage to these critical nerves and in doing so, potentially reduce the sexual dysfunction and urinary incontinence that are common side effects.
As a patient you should know that the same type of nerve identification technology that ProPep Surgical offers to surgeons is standard of care for thyroid and facial nerve surgery, both cancerous glands that need to be removed with vital nerves at risk in doing so.
Surgeon Survey Results
Better Sexual Function: 75% of patients achieve better sexual function as measured by standard health metrics (IIEF- International Index of Erectile Function and SHIM- Sexual Health Inventory for Men)
Better Continence: 100% of surgeons report better patient continence as measured by standard health metrics (EPIC- Expanded Prostate Cancer Index Composite)
Better Surgeon: 100% of surgeons report that using ProPep® Nerve Monitoring System changes the way they handle tissue during surgery and makes them more confident of nerve location.
Surgeon Validation
According to Dr. Ramakumar, “The ProPep Nerve Monitoring System is the perfect compliment to the advanced imaging provided by the da Vinci platform for prostatectomy. With it, your surgeon will be able to locate key nerves that are sometimes hidden and can be damaged if not identified properly. This has been a great step forward for improving the outcomes of our patients.”
Dr. Sanjay Ramakumar
Dr. Ramakumar was the first in Tucson to perform laparoscopic prostatectomy in 2003 and the first to perform robotic prostatectomy in 2005. He has been published extensively with a focus on laparoscopic surgery. He is active in research and has made presentations all over the world.