da Vinci™ Prostatectomy

Robotic technology offers new hope to prostate cancer patients

One of the most frightening things a physician can tell a man is that he has prostate cancer. In 2007 alone, the American Cancer Society expects nearly 219,000 new cases of prostate cancer to be diagnosed in the United States. In many of these cases, the course of treatment involves removal of the cancerous prostate gland and surrounding tissue, a procedure known as a radical prostatectomy.

Traditional radical prostatectomy requires an 8- to 10-inch incision. This surgery commonly results in substantial blood loss, a lengthy and uncomfortable recovery and the risk of impotence and incontinence. For many men a radical prostatectomy is the only option, but, when done traditionally, it can mean the removal of nerves that control bladder muscles and erections.

However, Norton Hospital now offers a less-invasive da Vinci™ Prostatectomy. The state-of-the-art da Vinci robotic surgical system helps surgeons see vital anatomical features more clearly and requires smaller incisions, resulting in a more precise surgical procedure.

Procedures performed with the da Vinci system eliminate the need for large abdominal incisions. Instead, a smaller incision is made, and a laparoscope (a thin, flexible telescope) is inserted into the abdomen to transmit images to a nearby computer screen where they are greatly enlarged for surgeons to easily see the prostate.

For most patients, the da Vinci™ prostatectomy offers numerous potential benefits over a traditional prostatectomy, including a shorter hospital stay, less pain, less risk of infection, less blood loss and need for transfusions, less scarring, faster recovery, and a quicker return to normal activities. Without complications, a patient usually can be discharged within 24 hours after surgery and typically can return to regular activities within a week.

For more information, call or e-mail the Norton Cancer Prevention and Resource Center at (800) 555-6772 or (502) 629-5500, cancerresourcecenter@nortonhealthcare.org. A health care professional will research and respond to your questions.

Prostate cancer symptoms*

Often, early stages of prostate cancer do not cause symptoms. But, in some cases, men with prostate cancer may experience any of these problems:

  • A need to urinate frequently, especially at night
  • Difficulty starting urination or holding back urine
  • Weak or interrupted flow of urine
  • Painful or burning urination
  • Difficulty in having an erection
  • Painful ejaculation
  • Blood in the urine or semen
  • Frequent pain or stiffness in the lower back, hips or upper thighs

Consult your doctor immediately if you have experienced any of these symptoms or if you are a man over age 50 who has not had a recent prostate cancer screening. If you have a family history of prostate cancer, or are an African-American male, you should consider screenings beginning at age 45.

To learn more about the da Vinci surgical system ,visit http://www.intuitivesurgical.com/index.aspx .

*Prostate cancer symptoms provided by the American Cancer Society