Who is Best Da Vinci Surgeon at Vanderbilt?

naimnut

Regular Member

Joined : Jan 2007

Posts : 93

Posted 2/4/2007 1:39 PM (GMT -6)

On another thread this week someone suggested Vanderbilt as an option for me to consider. But who is the most experienced surgeon? Through the Da Vinci "find a physician" links I see the names of Joseph Smith and Duke Herrell.

Can anyone speak from personal experience about who has the most experience?

Thanks,

Markus

Age, 53

PSA 3.76, Gleason 6, T1c, scans negative

psa doubling time 35 months

Still researching and deciding treatment options. Leaning towards da vinci robotic.

JWH

New Member

Joined : Jan 2007

Posts : 14

Posted 2/4/2007 11:39 PM (GMT -6)

Mani Menon at Henry Ford in Detroit is the best,

and the most experenced.

JWH, I am about 6 months into this. PSA 7.4, Gleason score 6 (3+3),Clinical level T1C. I'm 49 years old, the bone scan and CT are negative. Two cores positive, (2 mm and 8 mm). 2 % left side, right side 19 %. Da Vinci robotic scheduled March 8th Henry Ford Hospital, Vattikuti Urological Instute, with Mani Menon

SJC

Regular Member

Joined : Jul 2006

Posts : 113

Posted 2/5/2007 6:12 AM (GMT -6)

Dr. Joseph Smith was Mr. Tamu's urologic surgeon. What say you Mr. Tamu to Markus' inquiry?

naimnut

Regular Member

Joined : Jan 2007

Posts : 93

Posted 2/5/2007 7:09 AM (GMT -6)

Thanks folks.

Menon is at the top of my list. Absolutely. Ash Tawari is out of network, so not an option. Su at Hopkins, Patel at Ohio are also both right up there. But I've heard that (is it Smith?) there is a Dr. at Vanderbilt who is in about the same rank. Maybe it is Smith.

I know there are some other top da vinci surgeons but I have to keep my list fairly short in order to not mess up my insurance.

Markus

Age, 53

PSA 3.76, Gleason 6, T1c, scans negative

psa doubling time 35 months

Still researching and deciding treatment options. Leaning towards da vinci robotic.

Tamu

Veteran Member

Joined : Oct 2006

Posts : 626

Posted 2/5/2007 9:18 AM (GMT -6)

Markus,

Dr. Smith at Vanderbilt has by far the most experience on Da Vinci's then Dr. Herrell. Dr. Herrell has been Dr. Smith's assitant on the Da Vinci for hundreds of procedures being the one that is at the operating table. Dr. Herrell was not the assistant on my surgery so he may have started doing Da Vinci's on his own. In terms of number of Da Vinci's done over the last two years I believe that Dr. Smith has done more then Menon or Tewari. When I scheduled my surgery Dr. Smith's RN that does the scheduling told me that he has done Da Vinci's on men that come to Nashville from around the world. He is in high demand and has a surgical backlog stretching out for 3 to 4 months. One thing for you to know and I think all Da Vinci surgeons have you sign a release that gives them permission to change the surgery to an open procedure if for any reason they come across something that is not expected.

Tamu

Diagnosed 7/6/06

1 of 10 core samples, 40%

Stage T1c, Gleason 3+3

Da Vinci on 11/01/06

Catheter out on 11/13/06

56 Years Old

Post Op Path

Gleason 3+3

Approx. 5% of prostate involved

Prostate Confined, margins clear

Undetectable PSA on 12/18/06

No more pads as of 1/13/07

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