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A new surgery that uses a da Vinci machine begins every minute somewhere in the world.

Da Vinci shows 3D images in HD quality, ten times greater than the human eye can see.

By 2014, up to 90% of radical prostatectomies in the US were done with robot assistance.

Due to the robotic surgery facts, 1 500 000 da Vinci surgeries were performed in 2021.

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What is da Vinci’s method of surgery in prostate cancer treatment?

Prostate cancer is still the second most commonly diagnosed malignant tumor in men worldwide. It affects the prostate gland, which secretes prostate fluid, a part of semen. The prostate is close to the blood vessels, muscles, and a delicate net of nerves that control erections and bladder function. It makes prostate removal, which is usually recommended if the tumor hasn't spread, a precise surgical procedure. In open surgery, the patient must be cut from the naval to the pubic bone to get to the prostate. In da Vinci’s robotic surgery for prostate cancer, only a few minor cuts in the abdomen are needed.

How it works

The American company Intuitive Surgical, Inc. experts came up with the name "Da Vinci Surgical System" for a complex robotic system they made. It helps surgeons work on the prostate by making their eyes and hands more powerful.

Da Vinci is a "master-slave" system that has three main parts. The tower, or "slave," has four arms. Three of them hold tools like forceps, hooks, and needle drivers. The fourth arm holds cameras that can magnify 15 times. The surgeon sits a few meters away from the patient at the console, which is called the "master." From there, they control the robot arms remotely while watching a 3D stereo vision monitor. A separate cart contains image-processing devices.

The machine vision system gives a ten times clearer and more detailed picture of the surgical area than the human eye can see. The doctor uses small tools that move like a human hand but has a more comprehensive range of motion.

Due to medical research, da Vinci’s robotic prostatectomy is thought to be the most advanced way to treat prostate cancer. Robotic prostatectomy and da Vinci laser surgery are becoming more popular because it causes less pain and damage to the patient's body.

A detailed description of the da Vinci prostate surgery

With the help of a robotic system, small surgical tools go through a few small holes (only 1 to 2 cm) in the abdomen and remove the prostate and other nearby tissues with great accuracy. In a traditional radical prostatectomy, an incision is made from the navel to the pubic bone in the abdomen.

The surgeon used a three-dimensional endoscope and image-processing tools during the operation to get a clearer picture of the gland and all the tissues (muscles, nerves, blood vessels) around it. It makes it possible to save vital organs. In the end, a keyhole-sized cut is made in the skin to remove the prostate.

The EndoWrist® tools are attached to the electromechanical hands of the robot and go into the body and prostate: scalpels, tongs, scissors, electric coagulators, and other surgical instruments and tools. Suppose the doctor needs to switch out an item of equipment during surgery. The operating nurse uses the control system to take it out and put it back in.

The robotic prostatectomy procedure is over when the Da Vinci tools are taken out of the body. A small number of stitches are put in the cuts in the abdomen.

When is the method used?

Doctors perform Da Vinci prostatectomy in cases of prostate cancer that is only in the gland or has spread to nearby areas. In addition, urologists can consider using robotic prostate operations for the enlarged prostate gland.

What clinics offer robotic-assistant prostate cancer surgery?

Advantages and risks of the approach

Da Vinci’s surgical system has pros and cons; the main benefits for the patient are:

Savings the potency and bladder work.

Thanks to the robotic surgery performed with the assistance of the da Vinci robot, 8 of every ten operated men keep their potency. And less than 1 of 100 have problems with their bladder or urethra.

Better visibility and more accuracy — even in narrow areas.

The video on the da Vinci robot gives the surgeon a clear, magnified, 3D image in high definition. With a better view of the surgical area, they can do complicated procedures in small areas of your body with high precision. It gives more options for da Vinci prostate removal and gives the best possible outcome.

No significant scars are required.

In traditional surgery, the doctor must make significant cuts to have enough room to work. But the da Vinci robot is so precise that it can cause minor scratches.

It is excellent news because significant scars can hurt more right after surgery and later on. With the da Vinci system, the tinier the incision, the smaller the fault and the lower the risk of future problems.

Less time off, quicker recovery.

After the da Vinci procedure, the patient will still need to rest and heal. Still, because da Vinci's surgery is less invasive, it won't take too long for the prostate robotic surgery recovery time. The surgeon makes minor cuts and removes only a small amount of tissue in the treated area.

Because the da Vinci system is small and precise, the body won't have as much space to heal as it would with traditional surgery. It means that the person will have less downtime after the surgery and get better faster overall.

Less chance of getting an infection

No matter what kind of surgery, there is a chance of an infection. Any cut or wound that gets infected makes it more likely that a severe health problem will happen. That's why it's best to cut as little as possible. One of the best things about da Vinci's robotic surgery is that it is minimally invasive. It makes the risk of infection lower.

The most common type of prostate surgery is prostatectomy.

With all the benefits of the da Vinci system, it's no wonder more men now choose it, comparing traditional laparoscopy or open surgery for minimally invasive prostatectomies. The da Vinci system can't be used for all surgeries, however.

When compared to traditional open surgery, patients who have had a radical prostatectomy with the Da Vinci robotic system also have the following benefits:

Stop the loss of blood;
Minimal pain syndrome after surgery, so taking painkillers commonly is not necessary.

The system removes the doctor's natural tremor, which can't be stopped during other types of surgery. At the same time, the console controls all of the surgeon's movements, from the fingers to the wrists, so that they can move instruments inside the body with confidence and accuracy.

Concerning the risk

Robotic prostate surgery side effects are minimal.

However, any surgery, even one done with the da Vinci system, can have problems that can be severe. Serious risks include damage to tissues and organs and switching to other surgery types, which could take longer to recover and cause more problems.

Da Vinci surgery complications during and after the radical prostatectomy involve urine leakage, immediate urination, inability to get or maintain an erection, damage to the rectal or bowel, restricting of the urethra, and lymph fluid pooling in the pelvic region or legs.

People's outcomes may depend on some things, such as the type of patient, disease, and the surgeon's experience. Some measures can avoid Da Vinci’s prostate surgery side effects and complications.

And some words about da Vinci’s robotic surgery cost comparing the other options. The cost-effectiveness of different types of total prostate removal is still something that people discuss.

At first sight, robotic prostate surgery costs more than open surgery or laparoscopic. However, thanks to the benefits like a shorter hospital stay and lower risk of da Vinci robotic prostatectomy side effects, it is worth it. In addition, the study claims that robot-assisted radical prostatectomy is better than open surgery for early cancer control because less additional therapy is needed in the first two years after surgery.

Who specializes in prostate robotic surgery?

Results and statistics

In 2000, the Food and Drug Administration approved the Da Vinci system for adults and children. More than 6,000 da Vinci surgical complexes are working worldwide. More than 10 million operations have been done with their help.

Since doctors used da Vinci's robotic system, much research has been done. For instance, these were comparing robotic prostatectomy with other surgical options.

Based on the study of the functional results of radical prostatectomy, the risk of urinary incontinence 12 months after robotic surgery was less than 47% compared to open surgery. After the same amount of time, the strength was 65% higher.

Robotic radical prostatectomy takes an average of 130 minutes, and 97% of patients were sent home on the same day. On average, a catheter was in place for seven days.

A year after the surgery, 78% of patients have not lost their ability to have an erection and can keep one going.

Have you chosen the da Vinci procedure as an option?

It is time to find the right doctor and clinic.

AiroMedical is ready to help and offer the following:

Spending less time waiting for treatment to start and being able to pick specific dates.
Get help buying and bringing all of the needed medicines
Talk to the staff and people in charge at the clinic.
Get medical care and a ride to the airport and back.

We choose which physicians and clinics to collaborate with based on annual reports on their qualifications. The most important thing to look for in a doctor is how many procedures or operations have gone well and how often they have side effects. We also try to discover the reputation of other doctors and their experience in robotic surgery.

Put your request on our website.

You can ask our medical consultant first.

Where can I travel for da Vinci surgery?

References:

American Cancer Society: Prostate cancer
Intuitive Surgical: Robotic-Assisted Surgery
U.S Food and Drug Administration
National Library of Medicine: Robotic radical prostatectomy: outcomes of 500 cases
National Library of Medicine: Robot-assisted radical prostatectomy compared with open and laparoscopic approaches: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Wikipedia: da Vinci Surgical System

Da Vinci Prostatectomy Prostate Cancer Treatment