Hahn Comes Through Prostate Surgery in Good Shape

Los Angeles County Supervisor Kenneth Hahn was recovering at Daniel Freeman Memorial Hospital Wednesday afternoon after a surgery for an enlarged prostate that a spokesman said “went extremely well.”

The 67-year-old supervisor, who was easily re-elected to a 10th four-year term this month despite concerns among some supporters about the lingering effects of a major stroke last year, is expected to remain hospitalized for up to a week, said Dan Wolf, Hahn’s press deputy. Wednesday’s surgery lasted about one hour, Wolf said, adding Hahn’s urologist, George J. Yamauchi, called the procedure a “a total success.”

Results of routine tests for malignancy will not be available for about two days, Wolf said.

Hahn was hospitalized Monday after complaining of discomfort over the weekend. Initially, doctors thought Hahn had a bladder infection but tests revealed his prostate was enlarged.

Such problems are fairly common among men more than 60 years old, said Dr. Stuart Boyd, an assistant professor of urology at the University of Southern California.

“About half the men ulitmately need it if they live up into their 70s,” Boyd said, adding 67--Hahn’s age--is “about the average age” to begin experiencing problems.

Boyd said the majority of patients who need the corrective surgery performed on Hahn do not have cancer.

The surgery came as Hahn, who has remained partially paralyzed since his stroke in January 1987, was making some visible progress in his physical recovery. After being limited to a wheelchair for more than a year, Hahn recently began using a cane and walking a few steps to his seat in the board’s meeting room.