AMS 800™

Patient Profile: Dennis Holt

At a very fit 50 years old and someone who did regular exercise and check-ups, Dennis thought when he went into the doctor’s office that day, he would have nothing to worry about.  However, with a long family history of prostate cancer, he knew he should keep a close watch on his PSA levels.  Fortunately that day for Dennis, his urologist, L. Dean Knoll, MD, pressed him to have a biopsy even though his PSA level was only 4.4.  During the exam, an aggressive prostate cancer was found.

Dr. Knoll recommended he have it removed laparoscopically since he was so young and the chances of post-op incontinence and erectile dysfunction (ED) were lower.  After the surgery, Dr. Knoll told Dennis both good and bad news.  The good was that they spared nerves and thus he would not be incontinent or impotent.  The bad is that while they thought they got all of the cancer, some of his prostate was tucked away inside his bladder and therefore they would have to go back inside.

An open prostatectomy was scheduled that night to remove the prostate embedded in his bladder, and to reconstruct the bladder afterwards.  Unfortunately for Dennis, this procedure could not spare the nerves in that region, leading to incontinence and erectile dysfunction.  As an avid cyclist, runner and drummer, this news was devastating.  Depression soon set in.

Dennis’ lifestyle then changed due to the large number of pads he had to carry around with him. Every time he left the house, including his bike rides, he had to pack enough diapers in his bags, pants or coat pockets so as to not leak.  Next, Dennis tried condom catheters to catch and hold urine.  These led to skin irritations and the pain associated with removing the adhesive.  He knew there had to be something out there to improve his situation.  Dr. Knoll recommended the AMS 800.
 
Dennis now urinates when he wants to, not when
his body does.