da Vinci Prostatectomy is chosen by more U.S. men than any other treatment for prostate cancer1 and is being selected by more and more men worldwide. da Vinci Prostatectomy is a minimally invasive, robotic-assisted surgical procedure that removes the cancerous prostate gland and related structures. For most patients, the three main concerns about prostate cancer are: Getting rid of the cancer while maintaining both urinary and sexual (erectile) function. da Vinci Prostatectomy offers patients many potential benefits over traditional open surgery in these three areas including:
Better Cancer Control
Studies show that, compared to open surgery, experienced da Vinci surgeons achieve better cancer control - lower positive margin rates. Positive margin rates are a measure of cancer cells left behind – lower is better.2,3,4
Faster Return of Erectile Function
Studies show patients who are potent prior to surgery experience a faster return of erectile function than patients who have open surgery.5,6
Better Chance for Return of Urinary Continence
Recent studies show more patients have full return of urinary continence within 6 months as compared to patients having open surgery4,5,6
- Shorter hospital stay4,5,6,7,8
- Less blood loss4,5,6,7,9,10,11
- Less need for blood tranfusion4,6,7,9,11
- Lower risk of complications4,7,11
- Lower risk of wound infection11
- Fewer days with catheter5
- Less pain9
- Faster recovery10 and return to normal activities8
Improved Results of Surgery Over Radiation & Other Treatments
da Vinci Prostatectomy is one of many treatment options for men facing prostate cancer. Besides surgery, other treatments include radiation (external beam, intensity modulated radiated, and brachytherapy), cryotherapy, hormone therapy, and watchful waiting/active surveillance.
Recent studies comparing surgery to radiation, including IMRT, found that surgery to remove the cancerous prostate resulted in the lowest cancer death rate.12,13Another recent study found that the 10 year likelihood of radiation patients developing a secondary cancer within 10 years is 25% for EBRT and 15% after brachytherapy.14
A study of over 400,000 men with localized prostate cancer showed that, when compared to radiotherapy and observation, radical prostatectomy patients had the most favorable cancer-specific survival rates.15
Minimally Invasive Surgery
The da Vinci System enables surgeons to perform even the most complex and delicate procedures through tiny incisions with unmatched vision, precision, dexterity and control.
This website is designed to help patients make informed choices about their treatment and understand the da Vinci Prostatectomy procedure. You can use this site to:
- Learn more about prostate cancer and da Vinci Prostatectomy
- Review clinical data on outcomes
- Hear from actual patients and surgeons
- Compare da Vinci Prostatectomy with other treatment options
- Find experienced da Vinci surgeons near you
- Claim based on 2008 U.S. data. Data on file at Intuitive Surgical, Inc.
- Rocco B, Matei DV, Melegari S, Ospina JC, Mazzoleni F, Errico G, Mastropasqua M, Santoro L, Detti S, de Cobelli O. Robotic vs open prostatectomy in a laparoscopically naive centre: a matched-pair analysis. BJU Int. 2009 Oct;104(7):991-5. Epub 2009 May 5.
- Ficarra V, Novara G, Fracalanza S, D'Elia C, Secco S, Iafrate M, Cavalleri S, Artibani W. A prospective, non-randomized trial comparing robot-assisted laparoscopic and retropubic radical prostatectomy in one European institution. BJU Int. 2009 Aug;104(4):534-9. Epub 2009 Mar 5.
- Ho C, Tsakonas E, Tran K, Cimon K, Severn M, Mierzwinski-Urban M, Corcos J, Pautler S. Robot-Assisted Surgery Compared with Open Surgery and Laparoscopic Surgery: Clinical Effectiveness and Economic Analyses [Internet]. Ottawa: Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health (CADTH); 2011 (Technology report no. 137).
- Hohwu L, Akre O, Pedersen KV, Jonsson M, Nielsen CV, Gustafsson O. Open retropubic prostatectomy versus robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy: A comparison of length of sick leave. Scand. J. Urol. Nephrol. Apr 7 2009:1-6.
- Menon M, Tewari A, Baize B, Guillonneau B, Vallancien G. Prospective comparison of radical retropubic prostatectomy and robot-assisted anatomic prostatectomy: the Vattikuti Urology Institute experience. Urology. 2002 Nov;60(5):864-8.
- Miller J, Smith A, Kouba E, Wallen E, Pruthi RS. Prospective evaluation of short-term impact and recovery of health related quality of life in men undergoing robotic assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy versus open radical prostatectomy. J Urol. 2007 Sep;178(3 Pt 1):854-8; discussion 859. Epub 2007 Jul 16.
- Carlsson S, Nilsson AE, Schumacher MC, Jonsson MN, Volz DS, Steineck G, Wiklund PN. Surgery-related complications in 1253 robot-assisted and 485 open retropubic radical prostatectomies at the Karolinska University Hospital, Sweden. Urology. 2010 May;75(5):1092-7.
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