Success of keyhole bladder op at Mid Yorkshire Hospitals Trust

A man has become the first cancer patient in West Yorkshire to successfully undergo a keyhole a bladder procedure without the disease returning.

Philip Hirst, 60, has thanked staff at Pinderfields Hospital in Wakefield after he was offered the procedure as an alternative to invasive surgery.

The laparoscopic cystectomy was carried out two years ago using instruments inserted through small incisions in Mr Hirst’s abdomen.

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Surgeons said they were delighted with the results of the operation, which needed less recovery time than open surgery.

Mr Hirst, of Wakefield, said “The team were not only professional but caring and kind at all times, and their care was excellent. Following my surgery I was back at work 12 weeks later and after six months my life was almost normal again.

“The scars from my surgery are now almost vanished.”

Mr Hirst’s procedure, which involved blader reconstruction, was carried out under general anaesthetic by surgeons at Mid Yorkshire Hospitals Trust.

The non-invasive method, which was not available at most Yorkshire hospitals, saw Mr Hirst’s bladder removed and tubes carrying urine plumbed into a newly-constructed orthotopic bladder. Consultant Urological Surgeon Mohantha Dooldeniya said: “We are very pleased with Mr Hirst’s progress and are delighted to see he is making a full recovery.

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“The surgery Mr Hirst underwent was the least invasive option and required much less recovery time than open surgery.”

Mr Hirst added: “I can’t describe how thankful I am to Mr Dooldeniya and the staff involved in my treatment at Pinderfields Hospital.

Mid Yorkshire Hospitals said around five more of the procedures had been carried out following Mr Hirst’s operation.