Success in robotic prostatectomy

Prostate cancer is a cancer of the prostate gland. The prostate gland is located at the base of the bladder. Its size is about the size of a walnut, but it gets bigger as men get older. The prostate gland is part of the male reproductive system.

The prostate surrounds the first part of the tube that carries urine from the bladder to the penis. The urethra also carries semen, which is the fluid that contains sperm. The prostate gland produces a protein called PSA, the level of which can be measured in a blood test.

This patient was suffering from prostate cancer and searched for the best treatment technique. He realized that surgery is one of the main treatments for prostate cancer. He decided to undergo surgery to remove the prostate gland, which is called a radical prostatectomy.

Through further research, this patient heard about the surgical robot that represents the latest type of minimally invasive surgery. This technique relies on a surgical robot to remove the prostate through a few small incisions instead of one large one. This technique is also called robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy.

The surgeon performs the surgery using a surgical robot. Robotic surgery includes two devices, the patient unit, and the control unit.

- The patient lies on the operating bed, and next to him is the patient unit, consisting of a robot equipped with four arms. One arm holds the camera, and the other arms carry the surgical instruments.

- The surgeon makes 5 or 6 small surgical incisions in the abdomen. A camera and surgical instruments are inserted through the incisions to perform the surgery.

- The patient unit is controlled by the control unit.

The control unit is where the surgeon sits inside the operating room, but it is separated from the patient's unit.

- The surgeon can see the surgical area on the screen. This gives the surgeon a 3D view and can be enlarged up to 12 times.

- There are controls at the bottom of the screen.

- The surgeon uses these controls to move the surgical tools in the patient unit. This converts the movements made by the surgeon into much smaller movements of the robotic arms. It also reduces any vibration; allowing the surgeon to make very precise movements, making the surgical steps much easier with the robot. 

The surgical robot helps bypass the nerves that control erection, as the surgeon cuts the prostate tissue away from the nerve bundles without damaging them.

Robotic-assisted prostatectomy is highly accurate and offers a variety of benefits over traditional prostatectomy, including:

• Smaller incisions.

• Shorter hospitalization period.

• Less pain.

• Less risk of infection.

• Reducing blood loss and the need for blood transfusion.

• Less scarring.

• Faster recovery.

• Superior control of cancer.

• Avoiding the erectile nerve.

• The temporary catheters remain in place for much less time, and the risks of urinary incontinence and impotence after robotic prostatectomy disappear.

The outcome of prostate cancer treatment is usually evaluated by the degree of cancer control, urine control, and preservation of sexual function. The advanced robotic technology, mastered by Prof. Mahmoud AbdElHakim, Professor of Urology, Cairo University, is highly successful in all respects, resulting in minimal disruption to the patient's daily life. 

This success is what our patient has gained from the surgical robotic radical prostatectomy and the ability to live a healthy life without the complications of traditional surgery, as robotic prostatectomy is extremely safe in the hands of experienced surgeons.