NGMC uses da Vinci Surgical System for urologic surgical cases

/Home/Prostate Cancer Treatment Options/Surgery for Prostate Cancer : Prostectomy

NGMC uses da Vinci Surgical System for urologic surgical cases
BY STAFF

GAINESVILLE – According to the American Cancer Society, one in six men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in his lifetime. Luckily, there are many treatment options available to men diagnosed with prostate cancer, and now Northeast Georgia Medical Center (NGMC) is able to offer one more option through its Robotics Surgical Program and the da Vinci Surgical System.

“Although the da Vinci was originally developed for cardiac surgeries,” says Jay S. Hortenstine, MD, a urologist with Gainesville Urology, “applications for urologic surgical cases were quickly identified, and now the radical prostatectomy is probably one of the most common procedures performed with robotics.”

Robotics is a cutting-edge method of performing surgery using only a few small incisions, or keyholes similar to that used in laparoscopic cases, as ports for instruments that allow access to the heart, lungs and abdomen, while at the same time fine-tuning the technical skills of the surgeon. This surgery is performed in a three dimensional image compared to the two dimensions of laparoscopic surgery.

“The da Vinci Surgical System is ideally suited for most prostatectomy cases,” says David S. Woo, MD, a urologist with Gainesville Urology. “We are able to view the surgery in 10-times-magnification, three dimensional, high definition color and at angles better than ever before because of the optimal camera placement that the da Vinci allows within the body.

"Since the prostate gland is located in such a delicate position in the body, this visual optimization is a tremendous benefit to the surgeon, allowing for a more precise surgery and a greater chance at preserving continence and erectile function and to decrease blood loss during surgery.”

Robotic instrumentation works by mimicking the motions and movements of the surgeons’ hands and fingers.


“Robotic instruments articulate like the human wrist, as opposed to conventional laparoscopy where the instruments have limited range of motion,” says Dr. Woo. “This dexterity and the wrist action capability allow a surgeon to get around corners and to work in tight spaces to precisely mimic the surgeon’s movement allowing for a very good cancer excision procedure with quick recovery times.”

The use of the da Vinci Surgical System for a patient’s procedure rather than an open incision procedure can mean a shorter length of stay for the patient, a quicker return to normal activities, significantly less pain, less complications, less blood loss and less scaring.

In October 2005, John Perkins of Habersham County was diagnosed with prostate cancer. Having recently been through the same situation with one of his close friends, Perkins already had knowledge of the treatment options available to someone with a similar diagnosis.

“Robotics was an option that had just become available in Atlanta,” says Perkins. “After researching all my options, I decided that a robotic radical prostatectomy was the best option for me because of its precision in removing the gland while allowing for quick recovery time and preservation of continence and erectile function. I knew it would be minimally invasive (virtually no scarring); that my hospital stay would be reduced (overnight) and the surgery would be less painful than traditional open surgery.”

Perkins had a quick recovery post surgery.

“The pain from my surgery was negligible and I only had to wear a catheter for one week which is half the time of a traditional open procedure,” says Perkins. “Looking back on it, I do not think I would have needed any pain medication except for the fact that I had suffered a bicycling accident just prior to my surgery and had injured my back. Had it not been for the accident, I feel I would have returned to running and cycling very quickly when compared to time required with open surgery.”

Since his surgery in December 2005, Perkins has been cancer free and suffered no side effects from his surgery.


“I am as good as new, and my surgical recovery was quick,” says Perkins. “I am a proponent of the robotic prostatectomy for those with the option, and I think it is wonderful that we now have access to it right here in our community. Access to such technology makes it easier to live in this area and not have to fool with the logistics of traveling to Atlanta for such specialized care. I am proud that NGMC now offers robotic surgeries to our community.”

“We see a lot of medical technologies that are attempts at re-creating the wheel, but turn out to be neither new or improved,” Dr. Hortenstine said. “But robotics is truly an innovative technique that will continue to revolutionize the surgical environment. I commend NGMC and the anonymous donor for bringing this technology to the north Georgia community.

"Not only have they been willing to put forth the financial commitment it takes to support a program of this nature, but the Medical Center has put together a first class team of nurses and OR techs to ensure the success of this program. It displays the Medical Center’s true commitment to excellence in health care.”

The purchase of the da Vinci Surgical System was made possible though an anonymous gift of $1 million to The Medical Center Foundation as a part of their Healthy Journey II campaign. The da Vinci has already been used at NGMC for bariatrics and now urology and it will soon provide innovative robotic surgery options for cardiac, gynecologic and general surgery procedures.

Like all new technology, robotic surgery is not appropriate for all patients. For more information about the Cancer Center at NGMC call 770-533-8800. For information about other applications for the da Vinci Surgical System call 770-531-3840.