da Vinci Robotic Prostatectomy
Prostate cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the prostate. The prostate is a gland in the male reproductive system located just below the bladder and in front of the rectum. It is about the size of a walnut and surrounds the urethra (the tube that empties urine from the bladder). The prostate gland produces fluid that makes up part of the semen.
Approximately 16% of American men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer 
sometime in their life. Treatment options and prognosis depend on the stage of the cancer, the Gleason score, and the patient’s age and general health. With greater public awareness, early detection is on the rise and mortality rates are declining. Additionally, new advances in medical technology are enabling cancer victims to go on to live active and productive lives after their treatment. Consult with your doctor for advice on the options that are available to treat your specific condition.
One of the most common treatments for prostate cancer involves the surgical removal of the prostate gland, known as radical prostatectomy. Traditional radical prostatectomy requires a large, 8-10 inch incision. This open surgery commonly results in substantial blood loss, a lengthy and uncomfortable recovery and the risk of impotence and incontinence.
If your doctor recommends surgery to treat your prostate cancer, you may be a candidate for a new, less-invasive surgical procedure called da Vinci Prostatectomy. The da Vinci Prostatectomy (dVP) performed with the da Vinci Surgical System represents the fastest growing treatment for prostate cancer today.
da Vinci Prostatectomy incorporates a state-of-the-art surgical system that helps your surgeon see vital anatomical structures more clearly and to perform a more precise surgical procedure.
For most patients, dVP offers substantially less pain and a much shorter recovery than traditional prostate surgery. As a minimally invasive procedure, da Vinci Prostatectomy can offer numerous potential benefits over open prostatectomy including:
- Shorter hospital stay
- Less pain
- Less risk of infection
- Less blood loss and transfusions
- Less scarring
- Faster recovery
- Quicker return to normal activities
Moreover, recent studies suggest that dVP may offer improved cancer control and a lower incidence of impotence and urinary incontinence.
As with any surgical procedure none of these benefits can be guaranteed as surgery is both patient and procedure dependent.
The rapid adoption of da Vinci Prostatectomy combined with increased patient inquiries has inspired an information portal dedicated to da Vinci Minimally invasive surgery, www.daVinciSurgery.com. Physicians may refer patients to this site for further information.
Patient Experiences
Click here to here about real life stories of prostate cancer survivors and their experience of the Robotic Prostatectomy.
Dr. Lance Walsh is a highly trained urologic surgeon using the da Vinci robotic surgical system to perform prostate surgery (prostatectomy). Robot-assisted surgery offers surgeons greater access to difficult-to-reach areas of the anatomy using the EndoWrist instruments. Robotic technology seamlessly translates the surgeon’s movements into precise, real-time movements of the surgical instruments. This technique is used as a treatment option based on the guidance of a trained physician and its use is dependent on individual criteria. Dr. Walsh uses robotic surgical technology and techniques at Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage California.
Eisenhower’s First da Vinci Prostatectomy Patient Shares His Story
Watch the patient video on robotic prostate surgery with the da Vinci system
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