Windsor Regional Hospital has introduced a new, safer procedure for detecting prostate cancer, eliminating the need for local patients to travel long distances for this specialized care. The transperineal prostate biopsy, previously available only at Bluewater Health in Sarnia, is now offered at the hospital's Metropolitan Campus.
Lower Risk of Complications
According to Dr. Tom Deklaj, a urologist at Windsor Regional Hospital, the transperineal approach significantly reduces the risk of serious infections and bleeding compared to the traditional transrectal method. “The transperineal approach is associated with a lower risk of post-biopsy sepsis and lower risk of bleeding, which are two significant potential complications with the transrectal approach,” he stated in a news release.
Patient Benefits
Chief nursing executive Nicole Krywionek highlighted the importance of offering this procedure locally. “When people have to travel for their surgery or procedure, they need to have somebody to drive them. It’s an inconvenience in their life,” she said. “It is really important to get the care that you need close to home, especially for a community like Windsor, where we’re not located next to a big city location like other parts of Ontario.”
Krywionek also noted that the transperineal biopsy is less painful and less invasive. “It’s a lot less painful and uncomfortable for the patients,” she explained. “The other approach is still a standard of care, but this is just another option for different types of tumors located in this area.”
First Procedures Performed
Dr. Deklaj performed Windsor Regional Hospital’s first transperineal biopsy in May and was instrumental in bringing the program to the hospital. Since then, six procedures have been completed, with several more appointments already booked. “These are patients that would have had to travel outside of Windsor to have this procedure done, so we’re very excited to be able to offer this option at WRH,” Deklaj said. “It also provides potential opportunities for new diagnostic and therapeutic procedures for men with potential prostate cancer.”
How to Access the Procedure
Patients require a referral from their physician to make an appointment with a urologist at Windsor Regional Hospital’s Metropolitan Campus. The hospital encourages men to discuss prostate cancer screening options with their doctors.
