Mission Hospitals currently offers da Vinci® computer-assisted robotic surgery for urologic procedures, most notably prostatectomy (removal of all or part of the prostate gland). The National Prostate Cancer Coalition predicts that nearly one in six American men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer, but if it is caught early, 100 percent of these men will survive.
Image of Male Anatomy:
When medication and other non-surgical treatments are either unavailable or ineffective, surgery is the accepted treatment for a broad range of cancers affecting the urinary system, including prostate, bladder and kidney cancer.
At Mission, we understand that facing any kind of urologic surgery is difficult and that it is a cause of anxiety for many people. Among the top concerns of our patients is the question of whether their bodies will function normally after surgery. Recent studies suggest that patients who undergo a prostatectomy performed as a da Vinci computer-assisted robotic surgery have a faster return to potency and continence, and the da Vinci system may provide greater control over cancer removal.
da Vinci Compared to Other Prostate Cancer Surgery:
Traditional open surgery in which large, 8- to 10-inch incisions are made to access the pelvic organs has been the standard approach in urologic procedures. However, this kind of surgery is very hard on the body, often resulting in significant post-surgical pain, lengthy recovery time and a less predictable, potentially long-term impact on continence and sexual function. Yet many surgeons have avoided using laparoscopic surgery because of the complexity of the procedures. Traditional laparoscopic instruments are rigid and provide only a 2D view of the surgical field. Due to the delicate nature of the nerves surrounding the prostate, surgeons have typically opted for traditional prostatectomy rather than risk damaging these nerves and permanently affecting the patient's potency and continence.
With da Vinci computer-assisted robotic surgery, there is a minimally invasive approach available to treat prostate cancer and other urologic conditions that eliminates the shortcomings and risks of traditional laparoscopy and open surgery. Studies suggest that da Vinci prostatectomy may be the most effective, least invasive prostate surgery performed today. Rather than one long, 8-10 inch incision used in open urologic surgery, da Vinci prostatectomy requires only a few 1-2 cm incisions across the pelvic area. Using highly flexible instruments and 3-D imaging, surgeons are able to achieve greater precision and accuracy. The potential benefits of da Vinci prostatectomy include significantly less pain, less blood loss, reduced risk of infection, fewer complications, more control of the cancer, less scarring, a shorter hospital stay, a faster return to normal activity and less risk of incontinence or impotency.
The da Vinci surgical system has been used successfully worldwide and is the fastest growing treatment for prostate cancer today. Other urological procedures that can be performed as a da Vinci computer-assisted robotic surgery include cystectomy (removal of the bladder), nephrectomy (removal of one or both kidneys), pyeloplasty and ureteral reimplantation.
To learn more about da Vinci prostatectomy and other urological procedures, visit http://www.davincisurgery.com/.
If you think you might be a candidate for da Vinci urological surgery, talk with your doctor or contact one of the following Mission-affiliated da Vinci surgeons:
Scott M. Sech, MD
Victoria Urological Associates
828-254-8883
www.victoriaurological.com
Kenny L. Simpkins, MD
Victoria Urological Associates
828-254-8883
www.victoriaurological.com
Michael C. Staley, MD
Asheville Urological Associates
828-253-5314
www.ashevilleurologists.com
1See "da Vinci® Prostatectomy (dVP)" at http://davincisurgery.com/procedures/urologic/prostate/davinci_prostatectomy.aspx.
2For more information on clinical findings regarding the efficacy of da Vinci prostatectomy, refer to "Clinical References" at http://davincisurgery.com/procedures/urologic/clinical_ref.aspx.
