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? (i.e. emergency)
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. What is a radical prostatectomy?
   Ans) Radical prostatectomy is surgery to remove the entire prostate gland and surrounding lymph node to treat men with localised prostate cancer

2. What would be a reason for this procedure

Ans) the goal of radical prostatectomy is to remove all prostate cancer. During the procedure, the prostate gland and some tissue around the gland, including the seminal vesicles are removed

3. What is the level of urgency, degree of risk, and extent of urgency for this procedure?

   Ans) Radical prostatectomy not emergent. Physicians have time to optimise the patient condition before operation. Urgent radical prostatectomy is rarely needed.

4. What possible treatment would you anticipate being ordered for the treatment of DVT?
     
  Ans) DVT and low risk pulmonary embolism can be treated in the outpatient setting with low M/W heparin and Vitamin K (warfarin) or direct-acting oral anticoagulants.

5.What are risk factors that contribute to the development of DVT?

Ans) Age, congestive heart failure, indwelling catheter, long distance travel, obesity, venous thromboembolism etc.