Robotic Surgery

Radical Prostatectomy

Radical prostatectomy is an operation designed to remove the entire prostate, in patients with cancer that has not spread outside the prostate nor to any other part of the body. 

While it is a major operation recent advances in technique have reduced the complication rate, and when performed by a trained specialist it is a safe and effective treatment for localized prostate cancer.

Robotic assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy

If you and your doctor decide that a radical prostatectomy is the most suitable cancer treatment, a laparoscopic (key-hole) approach carries significant advantages.  The following benefits have been consistently demonstrated in international comparisons of open vs laparoscopic and robotic techniques:
  • Shorter hospital stay
  • Less blood loss
  • Lower blood transfusion rates
  • Reduced surgical complications
  • Less risk of post-operative stricture (scarring causing obstruction of urination)

REFERENCES:

1. Retropubic, laparoscopic, and robot-assisted radical prostatectomy: a systematic review and cumulative analysis of comparative studies. European Urology 2009 May;55(5):1037-63. 
2. Comparative Effectiveness of Minimally Invasive vs Open Radical Prostatectomy JAMA 2009;302(14):1557-1564




The da Vinci® surgical robot is a state of the art surgical system that increases the ease of laparoscopic surgery.  It helps the surgeon see vital anatomical structures more clearly and enables a more precise surgical procedure.

The system is powered by technology that allows the surgeon’s hand movements to be scaled, filtered and translated into precise movements of the Endowrist® micro-instruments.  Visualisation of anatomy is in 3 dimensions as opposed to conventional laparoscopy in 2 dimensions, which aids dissection around delicate structures such as the erectile nerves.