Nerve Monitoring System Now Being Used during Robotic Prostatectomies at Cheyenne Regional Medical Center
March 21, 2019
Cheyenne, WY–A nerve monitoring system that has been shown to significantly improve outcomes related to continence and sexual function after robotic prostatectomies is now being used at Cheyenne Regional Medical Center.
“The ProPep Nerve Monitoring System identifies the somatic nerves, which are hidden in the tissue surrounding the prostate,” said Dr. Timothy Gajewski, a urologist in practice at Cheyenne Urological, PC. “Using this system allows the surgeon to identify the location of these nerves and reduce inadvertent damage to them during laparoscopic and robotic prostate surgeries, allowing for improved continence and better sexual function outcomes for the patient.”
The ProPep is the first FDA-cleared real-time nerve monitoring system for use during laparoscopic and robotic prostatectomies. It has been in use at CRMC for about three months. Dr. Gajewski has extensive experience using the nerve monitoring system, first in North Carolina, where he was in medical practice through 2018, and now in Cheyenne.
Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men in the United States. About one in seven men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer during their lifetimes.
Urinary incontinence and sexual dysfunction are major side effects for many men after prostate surgery, with sexual dysfunction being a problem for up to 40 percent of men and urinary incontinence being a problem for up to 44 percent of men.
Using this new system, nerve locations are monitored throughout the surgery, allowing the surgeon to make informed decisions on how to spare the nerves. Nationwide, surgeons using the nerve monitoring system have reported significantly better patient continence and sexual function outcomes after prostatectomies.
“This nerve monitoring system is considered the standard of care for laparoscopic and robotic prostatectomies,” Dr. Gajewski said. “We want our community to know that this important tool is now available for patients undergoing prostate surgeries at Cheyenne Regional Medical Center.”
