Successful Salvage Robotic Prostatectomy Performed on Famous Dutch Interior Designer Jan des Bouvrie by Dr. David Samadi

Jan des Bouvrie, the renowned Dutch interior designer and host of the famous makeover design show “TV Woon magazine” is back in Netherlands at his design studio, Het Arsenaal, having had a successful salvage robotic prostate removal procedure done after previous radiation therapies failed to eliminate his prostate cancer. With his life back to normal, he remembers with comfort the care he received from Dr. Samadi and his dedicated surgical team at The Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City.

It takes a robotic surgery expert like David B. Samadi, M.D. to get the most out of what modern advancements in robotic assisted surgery can offer. Performing a salvage prostatectomy surgery on a patient who has undergone prior radiation therapy for prostate cancer treatment is a risky procedure, a fact that Jan des Bouvrie was well aware of.  Very few surgeons are willing and capable of taking on the task.  Jan des Bouvrie felt reassured by Dr. Samadi’s experience and international notoriety as the best at what he does, with further reassurance coming from the fact that 96% of Dr. Samadi’s patients regain continence and 85% regain sexual functions after a robotic prostate cancer removal procedure. A prostate cancer survivor, Jan des Bouvrie, tells his story about his trip to New York City and his experiences with Dr. Samadi.

After having been diagnosed with aggressive, life-threatening prostate cancer, Jan des Bouvrie chose radiation therapy as the method for attempting to remove the disease.  Five years later, after the cancer returned, he found himself in the position of having to choose another method of prostate cancer treatment. After doing research on the complications associated with having surgery after radiation therapy, Jan des Bouvrie decided that the risks involved were worth it if it could save his life. Robotic assisted surgery using the da Vinci system came out on the top of his list of choices for how to proceed.

Like anything else, however, the right tools are only half the battle and da Vinci Robot or not, having the right surgeon performing the procedure is critical. Having considered the procedure being performed in Amsterdam, Des Bouvrie decided to go with the most experienced prostatectomy surgeon worldwide. Said Jan, “My decision to go to New York for a robotic prostatectomy received criticism from several Dutch urologists; however, taking unnecessary chances with a deadly disease like prostate cancer was simply not an option for me. My search for the most experienced surgeon in the world continued pointing towards Dr. Samadi, who has performed over 3,200 successful prostate cancer surgeries. The fact that Dr. Samadi is fellowship trained in open, laparoscopic, and robotic surgery also impressed me. Considering the above, I flew out to New York with my wife Monique to have the surgery performed on February 12, 2011.” Cured of prostate cancer, the relieved designer is now back at his home in Amsterdam, only 10 days after the operation. “The prostate cancer is gone, and I’m back to the ‘drawing board,'” says Jan.