Question

A 65-year-old man is seen in the preoperative clinic 1 week before a scheduled radical prostatectomy. He has been diagnosed with femoral deep vein thrombosis (DVT) following a complaint of calf soreness. 1. What is a radical prostatectomy? 2. What would be a reason for this procedure (i.e. diagnostic, curative, restorative, etc.) 3. What is the level of urgency, degree of risk, and extent of urgency for this procedure? 4. What possible treatment would you anticipate being ordered for the treatment of DVT? (Discuss 2) 5. What are risk factors that contribute to the development of DVT? (Name 3)

Answer 1

1. Radical prostatectomy is the removal of the entire prostate gland. It is a surgery to remove the prostate gland and tissues surrounding it that includes the seminal vesicles and some nearby lymph nodes. Radical prostatectomy can cure prostate cancer in men whose cancer is limited to the prostate.

2. The reason for radical prostatectomy would be prostate cancer considering patient's age. Radical prostatectomy can cure prostate cancer in men whose cancer is limited to the prostate.

3. Oncologist assess and ensure that the prostate cancer has not spread beyond the prostate based on biopsy and Prostate-Specific Antigen levels. Life expectancy considering age of the patient 65 years is reasons and urgency for the surgery.

4. Compression Stockings or Inferior vena cava (IVC) filter is an appropriate options. (Deep vein thrombosis is commonly treated with anticoagulants but considering Radical prostatectomy it should not be recommended in this case otherwise it leads to internal hemorrhage).

4. Prostate cancer, Age and sitting or rest for long period are the key risk factors in this case. Risk of thromboembolic diseases (DVT) is more for the prostate cancer patients.