What is Robotic Prostatectomy?
This revolutionary and advanced prostate cancer surgery and prostate cancer treatment method profoundly reduces blood loss, pain, recovery time, and the familiar unwanted side effects of other treatments like incontinence and sexual dysfunction. For this reason, robotic-assisted prostate cancer surgery is sometimes called bloodless prostate surgery.
An experienced robotic surgeon, such as Dr. Tuerk, is able to enter into the patient through few small "keyhole" entrances and handle the surgery with some very tiny and precise instruments that allow the doctor to manipulate tissue with great precision and remove the patient's prostate gland without doing any harm to surrounding tissue.
After having a robotic prostatectomy, the patient is left with only a few small marks on his abdomen and none of the scars normally associated with prostate cancer treatment and surgery. Patients are discharged from the hospital within 24 hours and can get back to work and other regular physical activities within seven to 10 days.
da Vinci® Prostatectomy
da Vinci® Prostatectomy is chosen by more men than any other treatment for prostate cancer and is being selected by more and more men worldwide. This minimally invasive, robotic-assisted surgical procedure removes the cancerous prostate gland and related structures. da Vinci Prostatectomy offers patients many potential benefits over traditional open surgery in these three areas, including:
Better Cancer Control
Studies show that, compared to open surgery, experienced da Vinci surgeons achieve better cancer control and lower positive margin rates. Positive margin rates are a measure of cancer cells left behind and lower is better.
Faster Return of Erectile Function
Studies show patients who are potent prior to surgery experience a faster return of erectile function than patients who have open surgery.
Better Chance for Return of Urinary Continence
Recent studies show more patients have full return of urinary continence within six months as compared to patients having open surgery.
Overall benefits of a da Vinci Prostatectomy include:
- Faster recovery and shorter hospital stay
- Fewer stitches and less scarring
- Lower risk of complications and infections
- Less blood loss and the need for transfusions
- Quicker recovery of normal activities
The Robotic-assisted Surgery Program is led by Ingolf A. Tuerk, MD, PhD, chief of Urology and director of the Robotic-assisted Surgery Program at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center, an leader in laparoscopic and robotic urologic surgery.
Dr. Tuerk is an expert in the use of the da Vinci® Surgical System, and has performed 1,500 robot-assisted radical prostatectomies.
What makes Dr. Tuerk special is that he is an oncologist (a specialist in treating cancer), and is laparoscopically trained, which is a unique combination and guarantees expertise all aspects of the treatment of urological cancer including prostate cancer. Dr. Tuerk is a nationally and internationally recognized expert in laparoscopic and robotic surgery and has pioneered many procedures. He was one of the first surgeons in the world to perform laparoscopic prostate cancer surgery starting in April 1999.
Our Team
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Ingolf A. Tuerk, MD
Cancer Care, Surgical Oncology, Urology, Robotic Surgery
Steward Health Care