Is robotic surgery really that much better than open surgery?

Although most of the data in the medical literature to date is based on non-standardized collection methods, there is no doubt in our minds that robotically assisted surgery has more advantages than pure laparoscopy or open surgery for the treatment of prostate cancer. Robotic surgery has revolutionized the way we surgically treat prostate cancer. It allows the surgeon and the assistant to view the same operative field in a tremor-free environment with 8 – 10 times the magnifications you can achieve with the regular eye. Institutions like us
that pioneered and adopted robotics into clinical practice have seen numerous advantages including:

 

• Smaller incisions
• Less pain
• Less blood loss
• Shorter hospital stay
• Quicker recovery
• Better visualization
• Shorter catheter time
• Same cancer surgery as open technique
• Quicker return to continence
• Quicker return to normal sexual function

The table below demonstrates the difference in outcomes when comparing open and minimally invasive techniques side by side:

OUTCOMES	OPEN SURGERY	ROBOTIC SURGERY
Average Blood Loss	500-800 cc	150-300 cc
Transfusion Rates	13-24%	2-5%
Hospital Stay	2-3 days	1-2 days
Positive Margin Rate	17-30%	15-22%
Complications	13%	10%
Continence (1 year)	88-94%	92-97%
Erections/Potency	41-63%	61-81%

 

Differences in types of incisions between open and robotic surgery

Although from a cancer related standpoint this is the least important factor, incisions used for robotic surgery are clearly smaller. As a result patients require less pain medication after surgery and recover much quicker to get back to their day-to-day functioning.