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Is There Sex After Surgery?
 Yes - If You Choose the Right Procedure

roboticoncology.com

NEW YORK, September 20, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Men who opted for robotic laparoscopic prostatectomies are finding that not only are they cancer free, but they are able to resume normal lifestyles with total control over their sexual functions and bladder.  Men who opted for the traditional open prostate surgery, may also be cancer free, but they are rendered impotent and incontinent -- both of which may never be reversed.  These side effects are devastating to patients dealing with prostate cancer.

Only a handful of surgeons across the country offer expertise in this relatively new, minimally invasive procedure, and one of the most experienced is Dr. David Samadi, Vice Chairman, Department of Urology and Chief of Robotics and Minimally Invasive Surgery at The Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City.  A urologic surgeon trained in both oncology and laparoscopy, Dr. Samadi has performed some 3,500 prostate removals over the past seven years using robotic laparoscopy, with a success rate that could not be more positive.

According to Dr. Samadi, "Unlike open surgery, the laparoscopic prostate surgery involves just five small "keyhole" incisions in the patient's abdomen, through which extremely fine instruments are inserted, along with a miniscule camera that displays magnified two-dimensional images from inside the body on a screen.  The addition of a sophisticated robotic-control system -- called the da Vinci -- transforms those images into three dimensions, and enables the surgeon's hand movements to be scaled, filtered, and translated into incredibly precise movements of the surgical instruments.  The result is greater precision in both cutting and suturing, less trauma to surrounding tissue, and minimal blood loss."

Instead of two to three days of hospitalization and two months of recuperation typical with open prostate surgery, laparoscopic surgery patients often go home the next day and are back to normal activities within two weeks.

Dr. Samadi's experience in robotic laparoscopic prostatectomy has earned him a growing list of grateful patients, as well as the ability to perform surgeries that continue to break new ground.  Dr. Samadi has developed his own technique, his SMART (Samadi Modified Advanced Robotic Technique) Surgery, which combines the most effective aspects of open surgery and laparoscopic surgery, and applies those to the robotic platform.  Due to the increased range of motion and easier access to the prostate gained by using the robot, portions of a traditional open surgery can be entirely avoided: there is no need to open the endopelvic fascia and the dorsal vein is not sutured until after the rest of the procedure is complete.  Thus, the risk of damaging the nerves that surround the prostate is greatly reduced; these nerves are what control both sexual and urinary function in men.  Patients who undergo Dr. Samadi’s SMART Surgery achieve continence rates of 95% and potency rates of 87% at 1 year post-op while maintaining a 5% positive surgical margin rate.

For more information log on to:  http://www.roboticoncology.com or http://www.smart-surgery.com.

While clinical studies support the effectiveness of the da Vinci Surgical System when used in minimally invasive surgery, individual results may vary. There are no guarantees of outcome. All surgeries involve the risk of major complications. Before you decide on surgery, discuss treatment options with your doctor. Understanding the risks of each treatment can help you make the best decision for your individual situation. Surgery with the da Vinci Surgical System may not be appropriate for every individual; it may not be applicable to your condition. Always ask your doctor about all treatment options, as well as their risks and benefits. Only your doctor can determine whether da Vinci Surgery is appropriate for your situation. The clinical information and opinions, including any inaccuracies expressed in this material by patients or doctor about da Vinci Surgery are not necessarily those of Intuitive Surgical, Inc. and should not be considered as substitute for medical advice provided by your doctor. All persons depicted are models unless otherwise noted. © 2012 Intuitive Surgical. All rights reserved. Intuitive, Intuitive Surgical, da Vinci, da Vinci S, da Vinci Si, Single-Site,  InSite, TilePro and EndoWrist are trademarks or registered trademarks of Intuitive Surgical. All other product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.