Robotic Prostatectomy

About

In da Vinci® robotic prostatectomy, the surgeon sits at a remote control console a short distance from the patient and operating table. The console displays a magnified, three-dimensional view of the surgical area, which enables the surgeon to visualize the procedure in much greater detail than in traditional surgery.

A surgical team during a robot-assisted surgical procedure at Mayo Clinic using the da Vinci® robotic system.

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The surgeon precisely controls the motion of the surgical instruments using two hand-and-finger control devices. The da Vinci® system not only scales down the surgeon's hand motions, translating them into precise movements at the instrument's tip, but also filters out any minor tremor inherent to human hand motion. Incisions can be made with far greater precision, which often leads to faster post-surgical healing.

The da Vinci® system also enables nerve-sparing techniques that may preserve both sexual potency and continence.

Illustrations comparing open prostatectomy and robotic prostatectomy incisions.

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An experienced Mayo Clinic surgeon leads a highly trained surgical team throughout the robotic prostatectomy procedure. Surgical team members undergo in-depth individual and team training on robot-assisted surgery in Mayo's state-of-the art simulation center, and have extensive experience performing these complex procedures. Additionally, Mayo's sophisticated rapid-testing system allows pathologists to test tissue cells for cancer during surgery, providing immediate feedback to the surgeons and enabling them to precisely complete the procedure.

Robotic prostatectomy can result in reduced pain and blood loss, reduced tissue trauma, a shorter hospital stay — 1.3 days on average — and a quicker recovery period than a traditional prostatectomy. Patients usually can return to normal activity, with minor restrictions, two to four weeks following surgery.

Side Effects of Anesthesia and Surgery could include:

• Sore throat
• Sleepiness
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Constipation

Postsurgical Complications

Postsurgical complications are quite rare. Less than 4 percent of robotic prostatectomy patients have experienced wound infections, urinary retention or hematoma. The mortality rate for prostatectomy at Mayo Clinic is extremely low. Between 1997 and 2004, less than one-tenth of 1 percent of prostatectomies (6 in 6,774) resulted in a death.