Minimally Invasive Treatments
Robot-Assisted Surgery
Minimally invasive surgery has become a popular option for treating urologic cancer because it can offer shorter hospital stays and faster recovery times. Our minimally invasive surgery team is made up of experienced experts who have performed many "world firsts" in the field.
The Department of Urology is one of a few in the country using robotic surgery to treat all types of urologic cancer: kidney, bladder and prostate cancer. At most centers, the technology used only for prostate cancer.
With robotic surgery, surgeons make small incisions in the patient’s abdomen through which a camera and robotic instruments are inserted. The surgeon sits at a console away from the patient and controls 4 instruments using finger and hand movements. The tiny centimeter-sized instruments eliminate the need for the 6- to 8-inch incision required with traditional surgery. The camera gives the surgeon a 3-dimensional view inside the patient’s body with a magnification of 10- to 15-fold.
Minimally invasive procedures offer the advantages of shorter hospital stays, less blood loss, less pain and faster recuperation.
With prostate cancer, the ability to achieve outcomes that are comparable to conventional surgery in eliminating the cancer while preserving sexual function and urinary continence makes this modality an attractive option for many patients with localized disease.