For patients with prostate cancer, surgical removal of the prostate and seminal vessicles may be the best option to treat or even cure their cancer. The goal of the surgery is to provide effective cancer treatment, while preserving urinary and sexual function for the individual to the extent possible. Choosing an experienced surgeon for this procedure and fully discussing your post-surgical goals is important. At Northeast Georgia Health System, we offer robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy.
Benefits of Robotic Prostatectomy
During a robotic prostatectomy, surgeons are able to view the surgery in 10-times-magnification, three-dimensional, high definition color and angles better than ever before because of the optimal camera placement that the da Vinci allows within the body. Since the prostate gland is located in such a delicate position in the body, this visual optimization is of great benefit to the surgeon, allowing for a more precise surgery and a greater chance of preserving continence and erectile function and decreasing blood loss during surgery.
Robotic instruments articulate like the human wrist, as opposed to conventional laparoscopy where the instruments have limited range of motion. This dexterity and the wrist action capability allow a surgeon to get around corners and to work in tight spaces to precisely mimic the surgeon’s movement allowing for a very good cancer excision procedure with quick recovery times.
Robotic Pelvic Lymph Node Dissection
For certain patients, the da Vinci is also being used at Northeast Georgia Medical Center for lymph node dissections to determine if the cancer has spread beyond the area of the prostate.
Next Steps
Contact Cancer Services at NGMC at 770-219-8815 or contact one of our robotic urologic surgeons below to learn more.