Rochester General Hospital
Robotic Prostatectomy
Prostate cancer is the second most common form of cancer found in males in the United States. Sixteen percent of American men will be diagnosed with the disease during their lifetime. For a large majority of these men, treatment for prostate cancer results in positive outcomes and a return to good health.
With greater awareness of the high incidence of the disease, it is now being found earlier and mortality rates are declining. This fact, coupled with new medical treatment options, provide new promise for victims of prostate cancer. The vast majority of these patients will go on to live active and productive lives after treatment. Your urologist will explain the range of options available to you to treat the disease.
If your urologist recommends surgery to treat your prostate cancer, you may be a candidate for a new, less invasive approach to surgery called Robotic Prostatectomy. This approach to prostatectomy provides access to the internal anatomy through five small incisions. The surgeon is empowered to perform a very precise, nerve-sparing operation with the da Vinci® S HD Surgical System. For the patient, Robotic Prostatectomy may result in more complete eradication of cancer, retention of bladder control and potency.
Robotic Prostatectomy offers numerous potential benefits over traditional approaches to laparoscopic or open abdominal Prostatectomy, particularly when performing more challenging procedures for cancer. Potential benefits include:
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Significantly less pain
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Less blood loss
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Fewer complications
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Less scarring
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A shorter hospital stay
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A faster return to normal daily activities
Moreover, the Robotic Surgical System provides the surgeon with a superior surgical tool for dissection and removal of lymph nodes during cancer operations, as compared to traditional open or minimally invasive approaches. Robotic Prostatectomy also allows your surgeon better visualization of anatomy, which is especially critical when working around delicate and confined structures like the bladder. This means that surgeons have a distinct advantage when performing a Prostatectomy involving adhesions from prior pelvic surgery or non-localized cancer.
See a video on robotic Prostatectomy .
As with any surgery, these benefits cannot be guaranteed, as surgery is both patient- and procedure-specific. While Robotic Prostatectomy performed using the Robotic Surgical System is considered safe and effective, these procedures may not be appropriate for every individual. Always ask your doctor about all treatment options, as well as their risks and benefits.
For more information, please call: (877) 922-5465
