da Vinci® S Surgical System (Robotic Surgery)

Our Lady of Lourdes Medical Center is among select hospitals nationwide to possess the da Vinci® S™ Robotic Surgical System, the most advanced, minimally invasive tool for the treatment of prostate cancer. The da Vinci® S™ continues Lourdes' commitment to provide our patients the most innovative treatment options available.

The da Vinci® S™ uses small incisions, allowing patients to experience less pain and blood loss. Patients recover quicker, and have a better chance of retaining bladder control and sexual function than with previous surgical techniques.

While robotic arms hold the surgical instruments, the da Vinci® does not replace the surgeons. Rather, the system enhances the surgeon's ability to perform delicate procedures through tiny surgical openings. Every maneuver is directly controlled by the surgeon. The system cannot be programmed or make decisions on its own.

The da Vinci® features three-dimensional imaging of the operating field and intuitive hand movement, two major improvements over previous minimally invasive surgical techniques. The system's 3-D camera, which the surgeon can reposition, zoom and rotate directly from a nearby console, delivers a highly magnified view of the operative field, with bright, crisp images. Natural depth-of-field enables the surgeon to perform delicate tissue dissection and suture with precision.

The surgeon's fingers grasp the master controls below the display, with hands and wrists naturally positioned relative to his or her eyes. The system seamlessly translates the surgeon's hand, wrist and finger movements of surgical instruments inside the patient.

"The da Vinci® is the first robotic surgical system to provide the surgeon with nearly all of the natural movements of the human wrist," said Rajen Butani, M.D., a Lourdes urologist specially trained in robotics who practices with the Center for Urologic Care. "It also eliminates natural hand tremor and improves dexterity to enable surgeons to do ever-finer surgery in a more controlled manner."

The da Vinci® can be used for many urologic surgeries, as well as gynecologic and some cardiac-related procedures. For more information about robotic-assisted prostate surgeries at Lourdes, call 1-888-LOURDES (568-7337).

Patient Education Video

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Better Clinical Outcomes

Patients who undergo prostatectomies with the da Vinci® report better outcomes than those who undergo standard laparoscopic surgery. Benefits of a da Vinci® prostatectomy include:

Candidates for Robot-Assisted Prostatectomy

Patients considered for robot-assisted prostatectomy should meet the same criteria as those considered for traditional laparoscopic or open surgery. This includes patients whose prostate cancer is "local," has not spread to the pelvic lymph nodes, nor has spread anywhere else in the body (metastasized). In addition, patients are not likely candidates if they are morbidly obese (BMI > 40); have a previous history of TURP (trans-urethral resection of the prostate) or radiation therapy, have had extensive abdominal surgery, among other conditions.

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