German doctor teaches Virginia doctors
techniques in Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy
Durnig a visit to the Charity Hospital in Berlin, Germany to lecture and demonstrate surgical
techniques in reconstructive urology, Dr. Gerald Jordan, Department Chairman and Professor of
Urology at Eastern Virginia Medical School met Dr. Ingolf A. Türk.
Over the past ten years, Dr. Türk has centered his surgical expertise on the development of laparoscopic approaches for urologic surgery. Dr. Jordan observed Dr. Türk's efforts in the operating rooms of the Charity Hospital. He was particularly impressed with laparoscopic prostatectomy. This procedure has proven to be a significant hurdle to laparoscopic surgeons because of its degree of difficulty.
In general urologic surgeons in Europe have progressed more rapidly than United States surgeons
with regard to skills for laparoscopic prostatectomy. Dr. Türk was able to complete this
procedure with excellent vision, minimal blood loss, and at a time essentially equal to open
surgery.
Upon his return to the U.S., Dr. Jordan discussed his impressions with the administration of
Sentara Norfolk general hospital, Eastern Virginia Medical School, and the Department of Urology
of Divine Tidewater Urology. He, along with Paul Schellhammer M.D., medical director of Virginia Prostate Center, Michael Fabrizio M.D. and Edwin Robey M.D., both laparoscopic surgeons, recognized the importance of bringing this procedure to the Department Urology and the Tidewater community. He interested Dr. Türk in a six-month appointment with the Department Urology of Eastern Virginia Medical School with the intent that he would bring his expertise to Norfolk and train our laparoscopic surgeons to follow his procedure. The first fruits of this collaboration were the performance of the first completely closed laparoscopic prostatectomy in the state of Virginia on March 21, 2001.
|
