Robotic Assisted Laparoscopic Prostatectomy

Robotic prostatectomy also known as Robotic Assisted Laparoscopic Prostatectomy is a more recent advance in surgical treatment for prostate cancer. It uses a robotic procedure and laser scalpels for a totally bloodless surgery.

Robotic prostatectomy is minimally invasive prostate cancer surgery using a laparoscopic surgical robotic unit called the da Vinci system.

It is revolutionary in that as an advanced prostate cancer surgery and prostate cancer treatment results in profoundly less blood loss, less pain, faster recovery time and none of the familiar unwanted side effects of other treatments. This is why robotic assisted prostate cancer surgery is sometimes called bloodless prostate surgery.

Warning - this is a real surgery video which some may find disturbing.

An experienced robotic surgeon enters the pelvic cavity through a few small "keyhole" openings and performns the surgery using very tiny and precise instruments and advanced visualisation equipment that magnifies nerves and vessels 10-15 times. This allows the surgeon to very precisely manipulate tissue to remove the patient's prostate gland without harming surrounding tissue and signficantly reducing the risks of excessive blood loss.

Dual Robot Technique

Johns Hopkins researchers have further improved robotic prostate surgery by using a second robot for taking three-dimensional ultrasound images of the prostate and surrounding structures during surgery. This assists surgeons avoid damage to the neurovascular bundle [NVB]. These are the blood vessels and nerves necessary for achieving erection.

Following the robotic prostatectomy, the patient has only a few small scars on his abdomen and suffers none of the common unpleasant side effects of traditional open prostatectomy.

Most robotic prostatectomy patients are discharged the same day, or 1-day after the procedure. Recovery is significantly faster compared to open prostatectomy because nerves and vessels responsible for bladder and sexual functions are spared.

Comparing Open prostatectomy and robotic prostatectomy

NEXT: Factors to Consider When Selecting Prostate Cancer Surgery

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