The da Vinci Surgical System® is an FDA-approved technique for a performing a robotic-assisted prostatectomy. It combines robotics, computers and the surgeon’s skill to remove the prostate and spare the nerves responsible for erections.

The system consists of a computer console where the urologist sits, views the surgical field and operates remotely; a patient-side surgical cart equipped with interactive robotic arms, surgical instruments that fit on the robotic arms, and a 3-D imaging system.

<strong>How is the da Vinci prostatectomy performed?</strong>

It is performed in a hospital operating room.

The urologist sits across the room from the patient in front a computer console equipped with hand controls to manipulate the robotic arms. While watching the monitor that shows a magnified image of the prostate and surrounding area, the urologist begins to operate. The robotic arms copy the urologist’s movements, which can be micro-scaled to fractions of a millimeter for greater precision. If the urologist needs to change a surgical instrument on one of the robotic arms, the instrument is withdrawn by the urologist using the console’s controls. A highly-trained operating room staff assists.

<strong>What are benefits of the da Vinci prostatectomy?</strong>

Its cancer cure rates are equal to the open prostatectomy.
However, blood loss may be less, and patients may have a quicker recovery with the da Vinci prostatectomy.