Robotic-Assisted Prostate Surgery

Approximately 16 percent of American men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer sometime during their lives. Prostate cancer develops when malignant cells form in the tissues of the prostate - a gland in the male reproductive system located just below the bladder and in front of the rectum.

Thanks to more public awareness and education, men are detecting prostate cancer more quickly, which usually leads to a better prognosis and recovery. Additionally, medical advances are allowing for better alternatives for treatment of prostate cancer patients.

Robotic Prostatectomy

One of the treatment options for prostate cancer is the removal of the prostate gland, called a prostatectomy, through a surgical procedure with the da Vinci® Surgical System. This is an option for many patients who choose surgery to treat their prostate cancer and offers improved outcomes and reduced risks with less blood loss and reduced recovery time.

Benefits of Robotic Prostate Surgery

Nerves affecting urinary control and sexual function surround the prostate. The da Vinci Surgical System is so precise that surgeons can spare these nerves, enabling patients to maintain continence and erectile function - two major concerns for patients undergoing surgery.

While all surgeries involve risks, conventional surgery results in very high cancer cure rates. These cure rates are related to the type of tumor, whether it has spread and the surgical technique used. Prostatectomies performed with the da Vinci Surgical System have shown to produce even higher cure rates than traditional surgery due to the system's three dimensional and magnified view, resulting in higher accuracy and precision and more complete cancer removal.

Additional benefits of the da Vinci System over traditional radical prostatectomies include:

• Less invasive procedure, resulting in lower blood loss and decreased risk of infection
• Smaller incisions and minimal scarring
• Less pain after surgery
• Shorter hospital stay (usually one night)
• Faster recovery
• Quicker return to normal activities

For more information about robotic-assisted prostate surgery at Morton Plant Hospital, please call (727) 462-3000.