New Surgical Technique provides hope for many Prostate Cancer Patients

Prostate Cancer surgery is changing.  Traditionally a patient who is having a prostatectomy can expect a two day hospital stay along with a number of possible side effects once the prostate and the cancer are removed.  Other options are 9 weeks of radiation or some other non traditional techniques.  Now we have robotically controlled surgery or robotic prostatectomy. 

Tradional prostatectomy requires a eight to ten inch incision into the abdomen or perineum and at least a two day hospital stay.  Side effects resulting from possible nerve damage can also be excpected in a number of patients which can lead to urinary dysfunction or sexual problems.  Robotic prostatectomy, specifically using da Vinci robotic surgery has been shown to reduce side effects, hospital stay and can be performed with minimal incisions.  With the da Vinci technique the patient can usually go home the next day after surgery.

How does the da Vinci system work?  It uses a state of the art robotic technology which allows the surgeon to perfom extremely precise movements of the robotic surgical tools.  It provides the surgeon with a three dimensional and enlarged view of the area that the surgery is being performed on and this all is performed through usually five small incisions.  Nerves can now be identified with precision and avoided when removing the prostate and possible surrounding tissue and lymph nodes to ensure that all of the cancer is removed while leaving these nerves that are crucial to sexual and urinary function intact and undisturbed.  Typically when using the da Vinci system only five small incisions need to be made.  The robotic surgical tools and small fiber optic cameras are attached to robotic arms.  These robotic arms are maintained and put in place by surgical techs.  The surgeon actually sits across the room at a specialized console that consists of hand controls and pedals to controls the robotic surgical tools and cameras.  Another big part of the surgeons console are the two screens that the surgeon will use to visualize the surgical bed in three dimensions and which can be magnified many times.  Using the controls at the console the surgeon remotely manipulates the tiny surgical instruments that are attached to the robotic arms.

The da Vinci system is also not only limited to the removal of prostate cancer.  It is being used for heart by-pass surgery, kidney transplants and a number of other surgical procedures.  The exacting surgeries that can be performed with this new technolgy means that many surgeries that could not be performed in the past will now be possible.