Is robotic prostatectomy better than open?

news.harvard.edu - Comparing traditional vs. robotic-assisted surgery for prostate ...

Does zinc bring down inflammation?

A number of studies have reported that zinc plays a substantial role in the development of metabolic syndrome, taking part in the regulation of...

Last updated Apr 8, 2018

Can zinc supplements stop hair loss?

Can Zinc Actually Help Hair Growth? The short answer is a resounding yes! Research has repeatedly shown that zinc levels tend be lower in people...

Last updated Jun 30, 2022

Promotion

An operation called a radical prostatectomy has long been a mainstay of prostate cancer treatment. Offered most often to men whose cancer has not yet begun to spread, it involves removing the entire prostate gland, and can be performed in different ways. With the traditional “open” method, surgeons remove the prostate through an 8- to 10-inch incision just below the belly button. Alternatively, surgeons can perform a robot-assisted radical prostatectomy. With this approach, miniaturized robotic instruments are passed through several much smaller incisions in the patient’s abdomen. Surgeons control these instruments remotely while sitting at a console.

At least 85 percent of all radical prostatectomies in the United States today are performed robotically. But how do those high-tech surgeries compare with the traditional open method?

Most studies show no major differences between the procedures in terms of patient survival or their ability to control prostate cancer over the long term. Robotic prostatectomies ostensibly offer quality-of-life advantages for urinary function and sexual health. However, the supporting evidence comes mostly from doctors’ reports, insurance claims-based data, or studies too small to generate definitive conclusions.

Now, results from a much larger comparative study provide needed clarity.

During the study, researchers from Harvard-affiliated hospitals and other academic medical centers in the United States followed 1,094 men who were treated with radical prostatectomy between 2003 and 2013. All the men had newly-diagnosed cancer that was confined to the prostate gland. Among them, 545 men had an open radical prostatectomy, while the remaining 549 men had a robot-assisted operation. Then at two-, six-, 12-, and 24-month intervals, the men responded to questions about their urinary and bowel functioning, ability to engage in sexual activity, energy levels, and emotional state.

What the study found

According to the results, both methods were equally effective at removing cancer from the body, and post-surgical complications between them occurred relatively infrequently. However, there were some short-term differences between the two approaches. For instance, the robotically-treated men had shorter lengths of hospital stay (1.6 days versus 2.1 days on average), and they also reported lower pain scores after surgery. Men who underwent robotically-assisted surgery also reported fewer complications such as blood clots (10 men versus three men), urinary tract infections (33 men versus 23 men), and bladder neck contracture, which is a treatable condition that occurs when scarring in the bladder outflow makes it hard to urinate. In all, 45 men experienced a bladder neck contracture after open surgery, compared to nine men treated with the robotic method. This is an excerpt from an article that appears on the Harvard Health Publishing website.

To read the full story

Charlie Schmidt is the editor of the Harvard Medical School Annual Report on Prostate Diseases.

What age do men start having prostate problems?

Prostate problems frequently occur in men over the age of 50, but it is not uncommon for men in their 40s to experience symptoms. Fortunately, with...

Last updated Nov 28, 2019

How does a person with no bottom half go to the bathroom?

They rely on medical tubes to excrete stools and urine. half body amputees are usually called hemicorperectomy amputees. Hemi means half, corper...

Last updated May 16, 2022

Promotion

How many hours does robotic prostate surgery take?

The procedure usually takes 2 to 3 hours under general anesthesia. Most patients experience only a small blood loss and blood transfusions are needed in less than one percent of patients.

health.ucdavis.edu - Robotic Prostatectomy FAQs | UC Davis Department of Urologic Surgery

It is similar to the conventional, minimally invasive laparoscopic prostatectomy. However, working from a special console in the operating room, the surgeon operates four precision-guided robotic arms to cut and remove the prostate. The procedure uses a small video camera, inserted through a keyhole-sized incision to provide surgeons with magnified, 3-D images of the prostate site. This expansive view allows doctors to see the nerve bundles and muscles surrounding the prostate. The robotic arms, with full 360-degree rotation capabilities, are placed through several other keyhole incisions allowing surgical instruments to move with greater precision, flexibility and range of motion than in a standard laparoscopy. The procedure usually takes 2 to 3 hours under general anesthesia. Most patients experience only a small blood loss and blood transfusions are needed in less than one percent of patients. Prostatectomy patients typically spend one night in the hospital and are usually discharged as soon as their laboratory tests are acceptable, pain is controlled and they are able to retain liquids. Patients are discharged with special catheter, which is removed during an outpatient visit 5-7 days after the operation.

What does a urologist do for female incontinence?

Treatment for Urgency Incontinence/Overactive Bladder Botox injection. Behavior modification. Pelvic floor rehabilitation. Fluid intake management.

Last updated Jan 16, 2023

Is apples good for prostate?

Apples have high concentrations of two types of phytonutrients that have a variety of biological actions that help deter prostate cancer:...

Last updated Feb 11, 2019

Promotion

How do soldiers fall asleep fast?

The military method Relax your legs, thighs, and calves. Clear your mind for 10 seconds by imagining a relaxing scene. If this doesn't work, try...

Last updated Feb 15, 2021

Promotion

What is male sperm called?

The male gamete, or sperm, and the female gamete, the egg or ovum, meet in the female's reproductive system. When sperm fertilizes (meets) an egg,...

Last updated Nov 1, 2018