Robotic-Assisted Surgery for Prostatectomy

A new study has shown that male patients who had a radical prostatectomy performed by surgeons with a surgical robot had the same outcomes as open surgery, but with less blood loss, shorter hospital stay, faster recovery, and minimal use of narcotics during recovery.

The study involved 300 men who had the procedure performed at the Urology Centers of Alabama (Birmingham, USA). Average blood loss was less than 50 ml, which is less than the amount lost during standard open surgery. The men were hospitalized for one day following the operation, compared to two-three days of hospital stay after conventional surgery. Return to independent activities of daily living was seven to 10 days after the procedure, versus four to six weeks for traditional open surgery. In addition, up to 80% of the men did not consume any narcotic medication during their perioperative period.

The robotic system used in the study was the daVinci system (Intuitive Surgical, Sunnyvale, CA, USA). Its use increases precision and makes suturing easier, noted Dr. Vipul Patel, director of minimally invasive surgery at Urology Centers of Alabama. "Robotic prostatectomy makes a good surgeon even better because it enhances what you can do. It improves your ability to see the surgical field and allows increased surgical precision. This is important when attempting to remove the prostate while preserving the delicate nerves necessary for continence and potency.”

According to Dr. Patel, the demand for robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy is growing. He and his colleagues now perform eight to 10 procedures a week. Patients come from all over the world. "It definitely has the potential to become a standard of care in the future,” he added. The findings of the study were presented at the annual Clinical Congress of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) in New Orleans (LA, USA) in October 2004.




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