With the advent of the da Vinci™ robot, Tulane University Health Science Center was among the first in the United States to acquire this advanced therapeutic option for management of prostate cancer. This technical innovation provides the surgeon with 3-D high definition viewing capabilities which enhances the surgical procedure so as to maintain quality of life issues which are of major concern to patients for management of their prostate cancer.

Besides drastically decreasing pain and blood loss, the robotic prostatectomy greatly enhances the technical aspects of the procedure because the surgeon has the option of up to 10x magnification which greatly facilitates the nerve-sparing option which is now preferred in most patients who have early diagnosis of prostate cancer.

The surgeons on the Tulane Urology robotic team not only provide this state-of-the-art option here in New Orleans but also have traveled extensively teaching this new art of surgery in several states around the country.

In addition, Tulane Urology is the only approved fellowship training site in the entire Gulf South.

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Brief description of the procedure

• After pre-operative discussion and adequate consent, the patient is given general anesthesia.
• Laparoscopic trocars or ports are inserted into the abdomen to introduce a 3-D camera and the robotic working instruments. Additional trocars help the bedside surgeon to insert instruments, suture material, drains, etc.
• The magnification, as mentioned above, greatly improves the vision of the surgeon and thus the surgical procedure is more precise as compared to most open radical retropubic prostatectomy.
• The robotic procedure usually takes slightly longer than the open surgical procedure. However, the increased time includes the robot set-up time, instrument turnover or change time, etc.
• Most patients stay in the hospital overnight and are sent home after having a regular breakfast.
• Pain management: most patients are managed postoperatively using anti-inflammatory agents such as ibuprofen (Advil™, Nuprin™).

Experience Matters

As with all new technology, robotic surgery involves a significant learning curve. The importance of experience in robotic surgery is critical in procedures such as radical prostatectomy because the nerve-sparing approach is crucial to maintain quality of life as well as ensuring that the surgical margins are negative. This latter point is important as far as cancer control is concerned.

It is recommended that potential patients check with their urologist about his/her experience using the da Vinci™ robot for radical prostatectomy. We believe a well-informed consumer can make the right choices.

Click here to read an article published in USA Today in May 2007 about the importance of experience in performing robotic radical prostatectomy.

In summary, the advantages are:

- better visualization in 3-D
- less invasive
- less painful
- quicker recovery
- quicker return to normal activity.