J03 -- January 2009 -- Robotic Urologic Surgery

Intro: Benign prostate hyperplasia, or BPH, is a common condition that men develop as they age. The main symptom is the need to make frequent trips to the bathroom. In extreme cases, complications such as painful bladder stones can develop. Traditional treatment for these cases meant a big incision and several days in the hospital. But now doctors are using minimally invasive robots to perform this operation. Let's go to Mayo Clinic to find out what the technology means for patients.

FARMING THESE DAYS CAN BE PRETTY HIGH TECH.

"EVERY TWO OR THREE YEARS THERE'S SOMETHING NEW OUT."

BRUCE GERDTS USES GPS SYSTEMS TO MAP THE FIELDS AND PUSH BUTTON TECHNOLOGY TO OPERATE THE HARVESTER.

"IT'S ALL DONE WITH YOUR THUMB. THIS ONE TURNS THE AUGER ON AN OFF."

BRUCE DEPENDS ON TECHNOLOGY TO KEEP HIS FARM RUNNING. AND HE CHOSE THE LATEST IN MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY TO CARE FOR HIS HEALTH.

BRUCE WENT TO MAYO CLINIC WHERE DR. IGOR FRANK PERFORMED ROBOTIC SURGERY TO TREAT CONDITIONS RELATING TO HIS ENLARGED PROSTATE.

"HE HAD A GRAND TOTAL OF THREE DIFFERENT CONDITIONS THAT NEEDED TO BE TREATED SURGICALLY."

THE ENLARGED PROSTATE, BLADDER STONES AND A DIVERTICULUM, OR OUT-POUCHING OF HIS BLADDER WALL.

"WHEN THE PROCEDURE WAS DONE IN THE PAST WE WOULD HAVE TO MAKE AN INCISION BETWEEN THE BELLY BUTTON AND THE PUBIC BONE."

ROBOTIC SURGERY IS MUCH LESS INVASIVE. THE ROBOTIC ARMS, EQUIPPED WITH SURGICAL INSTRUMENTS AND A 3-D CAMERA ARE INSERTED INTO THE BODY THROUGH TINY INCISIONS. FROM A CONSOLE ACROSS THE ROOM DR. FRANK GUIDES THE ROBOTIC ARMS AND PRECISELY COMPLETES THE SURGERY.

"RECOVERY IS A LOT QUICKER, THERE IS LESS PAIN."

AND LESS BLOOD LOSS THAN STANDARD SURGERY. BRUCE WAS ABLE TO GET BACK TO LIGHT WORK A FEW WEEKS AFTER HIS OPERATION. AND HE CONTINUES TO APPRECIATE TECHNOLOGY — BOTH ON THE FARM AND IN THE OPERATING ROOM.

FOR MEDICAL EDGE, I'M VIVIEN WILLIAMS.

Anchor tag: Dr. Frank says robotic surgery allows doctors to perform complicated surgeries that they used to think were impossible to do in a minimally invasive fashion.

And as the technology evolves, many more types of surgeries will be performed using it. Currently robotic surgery is performed in urology, gynecology, ENT and for some gastro intestinal issues.

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