Urology encompasses any part of the body that functions to eliminate waste from the body through the kidneys. Kidney cancer is diagnosed in about 54,000 Americans annually. Early detection and treatment result in significantly higher survival rates. Prostate cancer is among the most commonly diagnosed cancers, affecting one in six U.S. men. Today, due to early detection and aggressive monitoring and treatment, prostate cancer survival rates are among the highest of any cancer.
Treatment
Surgery can be required to treat kidney disorders, and cancers of the kidney, bladder and prostate.
Radical prostatectomy, which surgically removes the prostate gland, is the most common treatment for prostate cancer. Traditional open prostatectomy requires an 8 to 10-inch incision. This approach commonly results in substantial blood loss and a lengthy and uncomfortable recovery.
Since kidney cancer is fairly resistant to radiation and chemotherapy, surgery to remove the kidney or kidney tumors has become the treatment of choice for localized kidney cancer. Open kidney surgery requires a large incision on the patient's side. Laparoscopic surgery is another option that is less invasive, but limits the surgeon's dexterity, vision and control, compared to open surgery.
da Vinci Surgery
A prostatectomy performed with the da Vinci Surgical System represents the fastest growing treatment for prostate cancer today. Recent studies suggest that the precision of the da Vinci prostatectomy may offer improved cancer control and a lower incidence of impotence and urinary incontinence.
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Prostatectomy
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Open Surgical Incision
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da Vinci Surgical Incision
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If your doctor recommends surgery for kidney or bladder cancer, you may be a candidate for a new, minimally-invasive approach - da Vinci Surgery. da Vinci Surgery uses state-of-the-art technology to help your doctor perform a more precise operation than conventional surgery.
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Nephrectomy (for Kidney Cancer)
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Open Surgical Incision
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da Vinci Surgical Incision
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Cystectomy (for Bladder Cancer)
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Open Surgical Incision
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da Vinci Surgical Incision
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Benefits of da Vinci Surgery
For most patients, da Vinci Prostatectomy offers numerous potential benefits over open surgery including:
- Shorter hospital stay
- Significantly less pain
- Less blood loss and transfusions
- Less scarring
- Quicker return to normal activities
- Improved cancer control and a faster return to continence and potency
- Increased potential for kidney preservation in cerain prescribed cancer operations.
Find a da Vinci Surgeon
Visit the da Vinci Surgeons page to see which physicians have been trained and certified to use the da Vinci Surgical System.
Information and images provided courtesy of Intuitive Surgical.