Robotic Surgery
Table of Contents
Robotic surgery is one of the most advanced types of minimally invasive procedures available. At Spokane Urology, robotic surgery is used to treat nerve and muscle issues, urinary defects, abnormal growths, as well as these conditions:
- Prostate cancer surgery (radical prostatectomy): Removal of the prostate gland. Learn more about robotic surgery for prostate cancer. [LINK to Specialized Treatment: Prostate Cancer: Robotic Surgery]
- Kidney cancer surgery (partial nephrectomy): [LINK TO Conditions: Cancer: Kidney Cancer v2] Removal of a portion of the kidney
- Bladder cancer surgery (cystectomy): [LINK TO Conditions: Cancer: Bladder Cancer v2] Removal of the bladder
- Enlarged prostate surgery (simple prostatectomy): removing the obstructing tissue from the middle of the prostate. Usually used for very large prostates.
- Pyeloplasty: Reconstructing the drainage system of the kidney to remove obstructing scar tissue
- Ureteral reimplantation: Reattaching the ureter to the bladder
- Pelvic prolapse (sacrocolpopexy): Fixing prolapsed vagina and bladder putting it back in the correct location in the pelvis
How It Works
With robotic surgery, tiny surgical instruments fit through strategically placed incisions. These instruments are linked to robotic arms, which allow your surgeon to have a broader range of motion and more precision.
During a typical robotic surgery procedure:
- The robotic arms are inserted through small incisions in your abdomen.
- The surgeon sits at a console and controls the robotic arms.
- The surgeon uses the arms to perform the surgical procedure, while viewing a 3D magnified image of the surgical field.
- After the procedure, the robotic arms are removed, and the incisions are closed with surgical glue and stitches.
Benefits of Robotic Surgery
Compared to traditional surgery, robotic surgery results in:
- More precise movements
- Lower risk of infection
- Reduced post-operative discomfort/pain
- Lower risk of bleeding
- Faster recovery
- Less scarring
Because you only need a few small incisions for robotic procedures, your surgeon doesn’t have to disrupt as many tissues, including your muscles and connective tissues. This means that you’ll typically heal faster than with traditional open surgery.
