About da Vinci:

The Procedure

Two surgeons working as a team perform the highly advanced da Vinci surgery. The first surgeon inserts the system’s tiny tools into the body through a series of very small incisions. Once inside, the tools become the eyes and hands of another highly skilled surgeon working at a console. One tool, a small camera, provides a detailed and magnified view of the prostate. Miniature robotic “hands”, working with great precision at the surgeon’s command, allow a range of motion and a level of steadiness that would be impossible for human hands to duplicate. The 3-D view makes it easier for the surgeon to see the nearby nerves and muscles that control continence and potency. And because the surgery is minimally invasive, patients typically begin walking the evening of surgery and usually begin a normal diet one day after surgery. Once the urethral catheter is removed, usually 7 to 10 days after surgery, many patients have complete urine control.

To help give a better understanding of what a robotic prostatectomy entails, we have provided two video presentations that, together, give an in-depth persepective on the da Vinci experience.

Procedure Overview

This 3-D animated presentation outlines the entire da Vinci experience, from facts and figures to incision diagrams and procedure simulation.

Procedure Footage

7 minutes of surgical camera footage from an actual robotic prostatectomy demonstrates the key points in the procedure.
** Contains graphic surgical imagery