da Vinci Robotic Surgery

Our urologic oncologist explains the benefits of the da Vinci S^® surgical system

About Our Expert

Joseph Trapasso, M.D., is a urologic oncologist at Lehigh Valley Health Network.

• What advanced technologies are your surgeons using to treat urological conditions?
• How does the da Vinci S^® Surgical System work?
• What is the impact on patient safety?

Q: What advanced technologies are your surgeons using to treat urological conditions?

A: Our surgeons use a state-of-the-art robotic surgical system called da Vinci S^® for eligible patients who are having prostate, kidney or bladder removals. The system consists of an ergonomically designed surgeon’s console, a patient-side cart with four interactive robotic arms, a vision system that provides enhanced 3-D views of the operative field and intricate software-controlled robotic arms that significantly increase surgeon dexterity and precision.

Q: How does the da Vinci S^® Surgical System work?

A: Surgeons operate the robot from a distance but within the same operating room. From the workstation, the surgeon begins by making a few small keyhole incisions that serve as endoscope and instrument ports. The video screen displays enhanced surgical field visualization in anatomic locations that are physically confined, poorly visualized, and/or otherwise difficult to access with standard laparoscopic techniques and instruments. The robotic arms, modeled after the human wrist, give the surgeon a “feel” of performing open surgery while hardware and software filter tremors and miniaturize the surgeon's movements.

Q: What is the impact on patient safety?

A: The bulk of clinical data regarding robotic surgery outcomes has been drawn from single-center trials. Nearly all studies have found the robotic approach to be at least as effective and often times more effective than laparoscopic surgery in terms of patient outcomes (specifically, by significantly reducing the incidence of impotence and urinary incontinence), reduced blood loss, lower complication rates and reduced length of stay. Overall, the da Vinci S system has achieved a reputation as the “gold standard” for laparoscopic operative management of localized prostate cancer.

This page last updated 11/2/09 10:49 AM