The Next Generation of Prostate Cancer Surgery

Robotic prostatectomy, or da Vinci^® Prostatectomy (dVP) is a minimally invasive surgical technique that provides a safe and alternative way to remove the prostate gland in patients diagnosed with prostate cancer.

The operation is performed using the da Vinci^® Surgical System and fine laparoscopic instrumentation inserted through 6 small 1-cm incisions across the mid abdomen. This is in contrast to the conventional open radical prostatectomy where a lower midline abdominal incision is required for dissection and removal of the prostate gland.

During the dVP, a telescopic lens is inserted into one of the small 1-cm incisions, providing a magnified view of delicate structures surrounding the prostate gland (i.e. nerves, blood vessels, muscles, and bowel) thus allowing optimal preservation of these vital structures. The cancerous prostate gland is dissected free from the bladder and urethra, and the bladder and urethra are sewn together without the surgeon's hands ever entering into the patient's body. The prostate is eventually removed intact through one of the small 1-cm incisions located at the belly button by extending the incision to accommodate the prostate depending on its size (usually 2-3 cm). 

About the da Vinci^® Surgical System

The da Vinci^® Surgical System consists of an ergonomically designed surgeon’s console, a patient-side cart with three to four interactive robotic arms, the high-performance InSite^® Vision System and proprietary EndoWrist^® Instruments. Powered by state-of-the-art robotic technology, the surgeon’s hand movements are scaled, filtered and seamlessly translated into precise movements of the EndoWrist^® Instruments. The magnified, three-dimensional view the surgeon experiences enables him to perform precise surgical maneuvers through small surgical incisions. The net result is an intuitive interface with breakthrough surgical capabilities. The System cannot be programmed nor can it make decisions on its own. The da Vinci^® System requires that every surgical maneuver be performed with direct input from the surgeon.