Urology

Treatment Options

Robotic Laparoscopic Prostatectomy at Strong Health

View a webcast of a pre-recorded Robotic Laparoscopic Prostatectomy and read a transcript from our web chat with surgeon, Dr. Jean Joseph.

Our urologists are among the nation’s leaders in pioneering and practicing laparoscopic prostatectomy. Currently, they do robotic laparoscopic prostatectomies, using the most advanced computer controlled robotic technology: the da Vinci® Surgical System.

The surgery begins with the urologist making several small incisions in the patient’s abdomen. (The incisions are 1/4 – ½ inch long, compared to a single 5 – 6 inch long incision for traditional surgery.) A laparoscope – a long, thin, lighted telescope – is then inserted through one of the incisions.

Tiny surgical instruments, held by robotic arms, are inserted into the other incisions. The surgeon uses the da Vinci® Surgical System to control their movements. Mini-cameras on the instruments send images to video monitors. These images are larger than life, magnified many times, allowing the surgery to be extremely precise.

The surgeon removes the prostate, nearby lymph nodes, seminal vesicles and adjacent tissue are through the small incisions, then closes the incisions with a few stitches. The magnified view also helps the surgeon avoid damaging the delicate structures and nerves surrounding the prostate.

This is part of the procedure known as “nerve sparing surgery” which increases the chances of the patient regaining erectile function (ability to have an erection) and continence (ability to control the urge to urinate) after surgery.