Urologic Surgery
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Urology is the field of medicine specializing in the treatment of diseases of the urinary tract, including the kidneys, bladder, prostate, and the male genital organs. Abnormalities that can occur in the urinary tract include obstruction of urine flow, incontinence (leakage of urine), stones, benign and malignant tumors, and several other processes that can interfere with normal function.
A Urologist is a surgeon who has been trained to treat all of these conditions in adults and children, but due to the extensive nature of the field of Urology, |
some Urologists may take more interest in or seek further training in certain diseases and their treatment over others. Additionally, since medical technology and techniques are continuously evolving, some Urologists may train for certain new procedures and medical devices and incorporate them into their practice while others may prefer a ''wait and see'' policy of adopting new technologies only after they have become standard practice.
The majority of Urologic surgeries today can be performed endoscopically or laparoscopically (through natural body openings or small keyholes instead of large incisions), many of which were performed by open surgery only a few years ago. Ask your Urologist whether these minimally-invasive procedures may be an option for you.
A Urologist skilled in open, laparoscopic, and robotic-assisted surgery allows for the appropriate application of these techniques and technologies such that a patient options are limited only by their disease and anatomy and not by the surgeon training or preference. |
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Minimally-invasive surgery
Minimally-invasive surgery (MIS) allows physicians to perform many kinds of major surgery with less patient trauma and pain, minimal scarring, faster recovery and shorter hospital stays. Surgeries are performed through small incisions, which replace the large incisions needed for conventional open surgeries.
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| The benefits of MIS are numerous. Traditional surgery often requires a lengthy hospital stay and weeks of recovery. With minimally invasive surgery, the goal is to accomplish internal repair while disturbing the body surface less than with traditional open surgery. Many procedures require one to only several days in the hospital and promote reduced recovery time. Patients can often get back to their normal routines more quickly. |
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Robotic Surgery
The use of robotics takes minimally-invasive techniques into a new era, allowing for even more precision in surgeries performed through small incisions. Robotic technology takes surgery beyond the limits of the human hand,
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introducing precise, versatile instrument movement combined with three-dimensional visualization of the operative site by putting robotic instruments fully under the control of the surgeon into the body through the small openings used for MIS. This aims to improve outcomes and may even make minimally-invasive surgery possible for some patients who otherwise would not be candidates for MIS. |
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Prostate Cancer
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This year in the US , almost 180,000 men will be told that they have prostate cancer.
The prostate is a gland in the male reproductive system located just below the bladder and in front of the rectum. It is about the size of a walnut and surrounds the urethra (the tube that empties urine from the bladder). The prostate gland produces fluid that makes up part of the semen.
Approximately 16% of American men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer sometime in their life. Treatment options and prognosis depend on the stage of the cancer, the Gleason score, and the patient’s age and general health. With greater public awareness, early detection is on the rise
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and mortality rates are declining.
Additionally, new advances in medical technology are enabling cancer victims to go on to live active and productive lives after their treatment.
One of the most common treatments for prostate cancer involves the surgical removal of the prostate gland, known as radical prostatectomy. Traditional radical prostatectomy requires a large, 8-10 inch incision. This open surgery commonly results in substantial blood loss, a lengthy and uncomfortable recovery and the risk of impotence and incontinence.
If your doctor recommends surgery for your prostate cancer, you may be a candidate for a new, less-invasive surgical procedure. This procedure incorporates a state-of-the-art surgical system that helps your surgeon see vital anatomical structures more clearly and to perform a more precise surgical procedure.
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Robotic Prostatectomy
The daVinci Surgical System is powered by state-of-the-art robotic technology. The System allows your surgeon’s hand movements to be scaled and translated into precise movements of micro-instruments within the body.
The daVinci System enhances surgical capabilities by enabling the performance of complex surgeries through tiny surgical openings. The System cannot be programmed nor can it make decisions on its own. The daVinci System requires that every surgical maneuver be performed with direct input from your surgeon.
The daVinci Surgical System has been successfully used in thousands of prostate cancer procedures worldwide. This method incorporates the latest advancements in robotic technology and allows a surgeon greater visualization, enhanced dexterity, precision, and control.
For patients who are candidates, the daVinci Prostatectomy has several potential benefits over the traditional open prostatectomy, including*:
- Shorter hospital stay
- Less pain and faster recovery
- Less blood loss and transfusions
- Less scarring and less risk of infection
- Less post-operative complications
- Quicker return to normal activities
- Better & quicker return of continence
- Better & quicker return of potency
*As with any surgical procedure, these benefits cannot
be guaranteed as surgery is both patient and procedure specific. |
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