Mr Rick Popert, Consultant Urological Surgeon

Mr Popert has a specialist interest in malignantDescribes a tumour resulting from uncontrolled cell division that can invade other tissues and may spread to distant parts of the body. and benignNot dangerous, usually applied to a tumour that is not malignant. prostatic disease and established a dedicated Prostate Clinic on his appointment. Over the last 7 years this has developed into a multi disciplinary clinic staffed by three consultant urologists, two radiationEnergy in the form of waves or particles, including radio waves, X-rays and gamma rays. oncologists, four registrars and four prostateA gland that surrounds the urethra near the bladder. It produces a fluid that forms part of the semen. nurse specialists. The clinic offers expertise in active monitoring, radical prostate surgery using the Intuitive “da Vinci” robotic surgical system; dynamic intra-operative prostate brachytherapyA type of radiotherapy where radioactive pellets or wires are inserted into the tumour., and conformal external beam irradiation. These initiatives have been funded by the Guy’s & St Thomas’ Charity and private donation. The service delivers the most comprehensive integrated treatments for prostate cancerAbnormal, uncontrolled cell division resulting in a malignant tumour that may invade surrounding tissues or spread to distant parts of the body. available on one site in the UK.

Mr Popert’s surgical expertise is in radical prostatectomyThe surgical removal of the entire prostate gland. and he has carried out over 300 of these procedures. In the last 3 years he has successfully transferred his experience from conventional open radical prostatectomy to the robotic assisted approach. In addition, he has the UK’s largest experience of single visit dynamic intra-operative prostate brachytherapy and has carried out over 400 of these cases between 2004 and 2009. The technique is particularly well suited to those with larger prostates or who have had previous transurethral surgery and is an excellent alternative to radical surgery with comparable disease control rates in patients with low risk cancer and is now available at London Bridge Hospital.

For benign prostatic disease, he has introduced a Holmium Laser Prostatectomy (HoLEP) service at Guy’s and London Bridge Hospitals. He has carried out over 350 holmium laser enucleations with reduced bleeding and length of stay in patients with prostate volumes larger than 70 cc compared with standard trans urethral prostatectomy (TURPtransurethral resection of prostate).