University of Rochester Robotic Surgeon Teaches Colleagues about Prostatectomy
One of the country’s top robotic surgeons will remove the cancerous prostate of a Binghamton-area man in a live demonstration of robotic surgery on Wednesday, April 8. University of Rochester Medical Center surgeon Jean Joseph, M.D., was selected to perform the surgery, because of his expertise, during the World Robotic Urology Symposium in Florida.
Joseph will demonstrate via the Internet a robotic radical prostatectomy, one of the most advanced surgical procedures to treat prostate cancer. He is head of the section of laparoscopic and robotic urologic surgery at the Medical Center and James P. Wilmot Cancer Center. Joseph is one of a few robotic surgeons selected to perform a live demonstration during the symposium, where more than 500 physicians from around the world will gather to study and advance the field of robotic surgery.
Greene resident Norman Pixley, 70, was diagnosed with prostate cancer in early month after a routine screening by Imad Nsouli, M.D., at the Syracuse Veterans Administration Medical Center. Doctors were closely watching the level of prostate-specific antigen (PSA), in his blood. When PSA is elevated, it may indicate a sign of prostate cancer in his blood, which had been rising. A biopsy detected early-stage cancer.
After research and discussions with his family, including his daughter, Marjorie Ketzak, M.D., Pixley chose the minimally invasive surgery that Joseph first introduced in 2003. The retired B.F. Goodrich Aerospace employee was impressed with Joseph’s track record of excellence.
The prostate is a walnut-sized gland in the male reproductive system located just below the bladder and in front of the rectum. The prostate contains cells that make seminal fluid, which nourishes and protects sperm. Each year, more than 186,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer and 28,000 men die from the disease. Although prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related death among American men, it is nearly always curable if it’s caught early.
Leaders in Robotic Surgery
Joseph has been using the daVinci Robotic Surgical System since 2003 and performs as many as 10 robotic surgeries per week at Strong Memorial Hospital.
Removal of the prostate using the robotic technology can be done in less than three hours and most men are able to return home in less than a day. The procedure results in minimal blood loss and faster recoveries than traditional open surgery.
There are a variety of treatments for prostate cancer, ranging from “watchful waiting” to surgical removal of the entire prostate gland. Treatment options include radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormone treatment, surgery or active monitoring - which is often chosen by older men or those who suffer from other life-threatening conditions. In these cases, the cancer may be growing so slowly that it’s not likely to be fatal.
Joseph said using the robot has been a great addition to the field of prostate surgery. The system consists of a robotic arm that replicate the surgeon’s motions inside the patient with great dexterity. The surgeon controls the movements from a console that allows him to see enhanced detail in the surgical field with virtual 3-D images provided by a laparoscopic camera.
When using the robot, Joseph said it’s like “being inside the patient. The 3-D view provides greater depth perception and brings us closer to the surgical site, which helps improve accuracy and precision.”
The robotic system also enhances the accuracy of delicate maneuvers such as repetitive stitching and suturing.One of the country’s top robotic surgeons will remove the cancerous prostate of a Binghamton-area man in a live demonstration of robotic surgery on Wednesday, April 8. University of Rochester Medical Center surgeon Jean Joseph, M.D., was selected to perform the surgery, because of his expertise, during the World Robotic Urology Symposium in Florida.