Urologic Surgery
When medication and other non-surgical treatments are unavailable or cannot relieve symptoms, surgery is the recommended treatment for many conditions that affect the male reproductive organs and urinary tract organs. These conditions include, among other things, prostate cancer, ureteropelvic junction (UPJ) obstruction, bladder and kidney cancer and vesicoureteral reflux.
Facing urologic surgery can create a great deal of anxiety. Typically, a common concern is: “Will my body function normally after surgery?” Traditional open urologic surgery using large incisions to access the pelvic organs has been the standard approach when surgery is needed. But there are several drawbacks to this procedure including: significant post-surgical pain, a long recovery and an unpredictable and potentially long-term impact on continence and sexual function.
Fortunately, less invasive surgical options are available to many people facing urologic surgery. The most common is laparoscopy, which uses small incisions. Laparoscopy can be very effective for many routine procedures, but limitations of this technology prevent its use for more complex urologic surgeries.
A new category of surgery, the da Vinci ® Surgical System, is being used by an increasing number of surgeons worldwide for prostatectomy and other urologic procedures. It is a minimally invasive approach, using the latest in surgical and robotics technologies and is ideal for delicate urologic surgery. This includes prostatectomy, where the target site is not only tightly confined but also surrounded by nerves affecting urinary control and sexual function. Using da Vinci , your surgeon has a better tool to spare those delicate and critical surrounding nerves. This may improve your recovery experience and clinical outcomes with such benefits as:
- Significantly less pain
- Less blood loss
- Fewer complications
- Less scarring
- A shorter hospital stay
- And a faster return to normal daily activities
As with any surgery, these benefits cannot be guaranteed, as surgery is unique to each patient and procedure. The da Vinci Surgical System is considered safe and effective, but may not be appropriate for everyone. Always ask your doctor about all treatment options, as well as the benefits and risks.
Learn More
To learn more about minimally invasive options for urologic surgery click here . To find a da Vinci urologic surgeon, use our surgeon locator .While clinical studies support the effectiveness of the da Vinci® System when used in minimally invasive surgery, individual results may vary. Surgery with the da Vinci Surgical System may not be appropriate for every individual. Always ask your doctor about all treatment options, as well as their risks and benefits.
