The following content was provided by Intuitive Surgical
Robotically assisted surgery (also known as da Vinci Prostatectomy) is widely available. Surgeons can use a machine to control tiny surgical instruments with great precision. This procedure may increase accuracy, but as with all surgery, the level of experience of the surgeon is critical, and it takes time for surgeons to master new tools.
These procedures only require a 24-48 hour hospital stay and have a shorter recovery time. Although minimally invasive prostate removal aided by a robot can lead to less blood loss, shorter hospital stays and fewer complications, so far there is no evidence that the procedure improves cure rates.
The ultimate goal of the robotically assisted surgery field is to design a robot that can be used to perform closed-chest, beating-heart surgery. According to one manufacturer, robotic devices could be used in more than 3.5 million medical procedures per year in the United States alone.
After carefully considering all treatment options with your cancer care team, patients may decide robotically assisted surgery is the best option for them. Electing to undergo robotically assisted surgery may offer some of the following benefits:
Less post-operative pain and discomfort
Faster recovery and return to normal daily routine
The anatomy around the prostate consists of muscles and delicate nerves that affect both urination and erections. During the removal of the cancerous prostate, the surgeon works to spare these very delicate structures, utilizing the articulating da Vinci instruments and a highly magnified 3D view of the anatomy provided by the System. This added control and precision may assist the surgeon in preserving the anatomy necessary for urinary continence as well as the nerve bundles responsible for erections.
Once the prostate is cleanly detached, the prostate is then removed through a small incision. The bladder is reattached to the urine channel over a catheter. This catheter is left in place for a short period of time to ensure proper healing. The surgery is completed with the removal of the instruments and the closure of the small incisions in the abdomen.
Videos:
da Vinci Prostatectomy procedure video (English)
da Vinci Prostatectomy procedure video (En espanol)
Recent studies suggest the da Vinci Prostatectomy offers equivalent cancer control to open surgery and may reduce the risk of urinary incontinence and impotence following prostate cancer surgery.
Find a surgeon in your city who performs the da Vinci Prostatectomy (Robotic-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy).
In 1985 a robot, the PUMA 560, was used to place a needle for a brain biopsy using CT guidance. In 1988, the PROBOT, developed at Imperial College London, was used to perform prostatic surgery. The ROBODOC from Integrated Surgical Systems was introduced in 1992, and is a robot to mill out precise fittings in the femur for hip replacement surgery. Further development of robotic systems was carried out by Intuitive Surgical with the introduction of the da Vinci® Surgical System and Computer Motion with the AESOP and the ZEUS robotically assisted surgical system. Intuitive Surgical purchased Computer Motion in 2003 and discontinued development of the ZEUS System.
The da Vinci Surgical System is comprised of three components: a surgeon’s console, a patient-side robotic cart with four arms that are manipulated by the surgeon at the console and a high definition 3D vision system. Articulating surgical instruments are mounted on the robotic arms which are introduced into the body through cannulas. The surgeon’s hand movements are scaled and filtered to eliminate hand tremor then translated into micro-movements of the proprietary "EndoWrist" Instruments. The da Vinci System is FDA cleared for a variety of surgical procedures including surgery for prostate cancer, hysterectomy and mitral valve repair and used in over 800 hospitals in the Americas and Europe. The da Vinci System was used in at over 48,000 procedures in 2006 and sells for about $1.2 million.
ZERO does not endorse any course of treatment for men with prostate cancer or other conditions. Treatment decisions should be made by a patient and his health service provider. If you have problems with the site or need more information, please call us at 1.888.245.9455 or e-mail your comments. All names, logos and articles are the copyrights of the respective owners.
da Vinci Prostatectomy procedure video (English)
