da Vinci Radical Prostatectomy Surgery
According to the National Cancer institute, over 238,000 men have been diagnosed with prostate cancer in the first ten months of 2013. Traditionally, chemotherapy drugs and radiation sessions have treated the disease. There have also been multiple types of surgeries to remove the prostate gland, including radical perineal prostatectomies, which are performed less now because they frequently involved nerve damage.Leading urologists collaborated with researchers at the USC Institute of Urology to come up with a less invasive procedure that would not damage nerves and which would offer a faster recovery. This was helped along by technological advances, and now the new surgical procedure known as a da Vinci radical prostatectomy has been created to remove the prostate with less tissue trauma. While robotic technology is involved, the surgeon is still controlling all aspects of the procedure. Because of its success, more men now choose this than any other prostate cancer treatment.
The da Vinci Prostatectomy Procedure
A prostatectomy means that a doctor, usually a urologist, opens up a patient through incisions to remove the prostate gland. No such surgery is without trauma, but a da Vinci radical prostatectomy minimizes the effects by minimizing the size of the incisions. Rather than one long vertical incision, the surgeon makes five tiny incisions across the belly. Once the incisions are made, the surgeon can proceed to remove the prostate gland.
With a magnified 3-D vision system, the surgeon can see far better than normally. With computer assistance, he can also maintain a firm grip on tiny instruments that have much greater range of motion than the human hand or wrist. He uses three robotic instruments: a pair of scissors and two graspers. While the procedure is sometimes referred to as ‘robotic’, the doctor is making all of the actual moves. He is in control during the entire prostatectomy procedure. His abilities are simply enhanced as he peels away nerves and cuts out the prostate. Where the urethra runs through the prostate, the bladder is pulled down and the urethra is pulled up. Then they are sewn together. That essentially completes the procedure.
The Surgeons at miVIP
Our surgery centers are nationally accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO). Our doctors are world class, having been educated at universities like Stanford, Columbia, Ohio State, and Baylor. They complete ongoing education in minimally invasive techniques and the use of new technology and have performed countless procedures. They truly use the robotic technology of the da Vinci radical prostatectomy as an extension of their eyes and their hands to ensure superior precision and minimal invasiveness. We are confident that you will find no finer surgeons anywhere.
What to Expect After Surgery
The da Vinci prostatectomy has a consistently better rate of cancer control (as measured by the number of cancer cells left behind), urinary continence, and erectile function rates. Because there is much less blood loss and less tissue damage when compared to older styles of prostatectomies, recovery is rapid with a da Vinci prostatectomy. After surgery, patients will usually leave the hospital in one day, and they will have a faster return to normal activities. In terms of secondary symptoms, patient impotence rate from the procedure drops to 2 percent. There is also a better chance for return of normal urinary function than after other surgical procedures, especially when the bladder is raised.
OUR PROSTATECTOMY OUTCOMES
Continence Results
Essentially, for men aged 40-49 and 50-59 we see a 100% pad free continence return, form men aged 60-69 we see a 94.3% continence return, etc. Overall, we see 97.3% of men achieve a pad free continence (meaning they do not require any pads).
Potency Results
In general for men with SHIM 22-25 age 55 and under potency Recovery is >95%.
Age 56-65 about 90%+/- 5 %.
65% recover within the first 60-90 days.
You don't have to suffer from continence or potency problems!
Data provided by Dr. Thomas Ahlering's data
Paying for a da Vinci Radical Prostatectomy
What a patient will pay for a da Vinci radical prostatectomy will depend on their health insurance plan. Some patients will have to pay all of their deductible before the insurer will cover the rest of the charges. Others may have no out of pocket expenses. The professional staff at miVIP wants you to be taken care of, and they will gladly help with insurance preauthorization and benefit verification. We accept most PPO insurance plans. Nobody wants you to put off having a necessary surgery because you aren’t sure you can afford it. That’s why a friendly patient advocate will be happy to walk you through the paper work and help you create a financial plan that will cover the cost of your procedure.
Dealing with cancer can be difficult. When you pick the surgeons at miVIP to handle your da Vinci prostatectomy, you have picked the best. Our procedure is the least invasive of any prostatectomy type. It will also get you back on your feet within 24 hours, and you will have the fastest long term recovery. To find out more or to schedule an initial consultation about the da Vinci radical prostatectomy, call 855-496-4847.
