Urological surgery is surgery associated with diseases that affect the male or female urinary tract & the male reproductive tract. The organs that fall under this field are kidneys, ureters, urethra, adrenal glands, urinary bladder and the male reproductive system (penis, testes, vas deferens, epididymis, seminal vesicles, prostate)
Robotics in the field of urological surgery has been an exciting development. In urology, robots have been applied in Reconstructive and Cancer Surgery
Expertise of Dr.Pradeep Prakash
The following procedures can be done in urology via robotic system:
- Radical prostatectomy
- Partial nephrectomy
- Radical nephrectomy
- Radical nephroureterectomy
- Reconstructive renal & ureteral surgeries- ureteric re-implantation etc.
- Pyeloplasty for uretero-pelvic junction obstruction (UPJO)
- Adrenalectomy
- Cystectomy
- Urinary diversion
- Retroperitoneal and inguinal lymph nodes dissection
- Kidney transplantation
Some of Benefits of Robotic Surgery
- Precision
- Three D natural vision
- Better hand-eye coordination
- Enhanced depth perception
- Seven degrees of freedom movements
- Ergonomic design
- Reduced chances of surgeon fatigue.
Robotic urological surgery is slowly becoming the gold standard for certain procedures. In the case of cancer of the prostate, a daVinci prostatectomy is the preferred plan of treatment. Benefits of robotic prostatectomy over open prostatectomy & laparoscopic prostatectomy are as follows:
- Faster return of sexual function (erectile function)
- Increased chance of return of urinary continence within 6 months of surgery
- Less loss of blood
- Lower risk of wound infections & complications
- Shorter hospital stay & recovery time
- Better nerve sparing rate
A similar advantage is seen in other robotic surgery like Kidney transplantation where wound infection and lymphocele are almost eliminated by the robot. Patients also get less pain, fewer narcotics requirements, better cosmoses and early recovery. Radical prostatectomy and partial nephrectomy are the most commonly performed operations all across the world.
