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Robotic Prostatectomy for Prostate Cancer
Getting Results:
The Best Outcomes for Our Patients
The benefits of robotic technology have a significant impact on patients and their outcomes. Because robotic surgery is done laparoscopically, dime-sized incisions are made that result in faster recovery time and a lower chance of infection or other complications.
Overall, robotic prostatectomy patients experience quicker recovery and return to normal activities than patients who have traditional open prostate surgery. In addition, robotic prostatectomy patients have:
- A shorter length of stay in the hospital and reduced likelihood of related re-hospitalization after surgery
- A lower incidence of deep-vein thrombosis (DVT), or blood clots, after surgery, and reduced risk of pulmonary embolism (PE), the sudden blockage of an artery in the lung caused by a blood clot
- Less blood loss during surgery and reduced need for blood transfusions
| Measure | 2005 | 2006 |
| Estimated blood loss | Average is 189 cc*† | Average is 202 cc*† |
| Blood transfusions | 3 cases (1.2%) | 5 cases (1.3%) |
| Pulmonary embolus/deep-vein thrombosis | No cases | 1 case for each (0.5%) |
| Wound infection | 1 case (0.4%) | 2 cases (0.5%) |
| Average length of stay | 1.08 days | 1.14 days |
*5 cc (cubic centimeter) = 1 teaspoon
†Mean blood loss for open simple prostatectomy = 841 mL (Source: BJU International)