It was withdrawn through a slightly enlarged incision. Forman had to stay three nights at UMass because of a common problem, anesthesia having slowed his intestinal function. But he happily went home Thursday, saying he was in no pain and needed no painkillers. A second patient operated on the same day went home Wedneseday. Dahl and Dr. Robert Blute, chief of urology, said they are happy with the results of the 35 lap prostates they've done since last spring.
Patients usually go home after two nights in the hospital and quickly return to work.
It's not worse, and it may be better,'' Dahl said. The Boston medical community, which often takes a ''show me'' attitude toward novel treatments, has so far remained on the sidelines. I think it's a work in progress,'' said Dr. Jerome Richie, head of urology at Brigham and Women's Hospital. He says the standard operation has been getting better, with smaller incisions and shorter hospital stays, but he agrees that the at-home recovery period is shorter with the lap prostate. He said he plans to learn the new technique once he's convinced it provides results equal to the standard operation.