Robotic urology

Before the advent of surgical robots, urologic surgeons performed these procedures through large abdominal incisions or using less versatile and mobile laparoscopic instruments. Robotic surgery is the most technologically advanced and minimally invasive approach to complex surgical procedures available today. Fortis  Hospital is one of only a few highly experienced surgical teams in India  with the clinical and technological expertise to offer minimally invasive robotic surgery.

During minimally invasive robotic surgery the surgeon sits at a console next to the patient and controls four robotic arms. One arm holds a three-dimensional camera and controls its movements, while the other three hold miniaturized surgical tools, which precisely replicate the surgeon’s hand and finger movements. The da Vinci robotic surgery system gives the surgeon a highly magnified view of the surgical field, and unsurpassed surgical dexterity and control. We work very closely with the manufacturer of the da Vinci system (Intuitive Surgical Inc. in Sunnyvale, California) to stay on the cutting edge of this technology.

Major advantages for surgeons using robotic surgery include:

• Greater visualization
• Enhanced dexterity
• Greater precision

• Radical prostatectomy and lymph node dissection for prostate cancer, including salvage prostatectomy following radiation
• Partial nephrectomy, radical nephrectomy, nephroureteretomy, and cryo and radiofrequency ablation for kidney cancer
• Radical cystectomy for bladder cancer
• Partial bladder resection for benign bladder tumors
• Pyeloplasty for ureteropelvic (UPJ) obstruction
• Adrenalectomy for adrenal tumors
• Cyst ablation and nephrectomy for cystic kidney disease
• Ureterolysis for retroperitoneal fibrosis
• Resection or biopsy for retroperitoneal mass
• Ablation for seminal vesicle cyst
• Donor nephrectomy
• Kidney transplantation
• Ureteral reconstruction
• Ureteral reimplantation

As with other minimally invasive procedures, patients who undergo minimally invasive robotic surgery benefit in several ways:

• Shorter hospitalization
• Reduced pain and discomfort
• Faster recovery time and return to normal activities
• Smaller incisions, resulting in reduced risk of infection
• Reduced blood loss and transfusions
• Minimal scarring
• Most important of all, studies show that they may have better clinical outcomes.