In honor of Prostate Cancer Awareness month (September), Sherman Health would like to remind you that we now offer the latest technology in prostatectomy surgery — the da Vinci Surgical System. This sophisticated robotic platform, used in hospitals worldwide, is designed to expand our surgeon’s capabilities and — for the first time — offer a minimally invasive option for major surgery.

The da Vinci Surgical System is powered by state-of the art robotic technoloogy and allows surgeons to perform prostatectomies as well as other complex surgeries through very small incisions with superior quality. The System cannot be programmed or make decisions on its own. The da Vinci System requires that every surgical maneuver be performed with direct input from a surgeon.

The two primary components of the system are the surgeon’s viewing and control console and the surgical arm unit that positions and maneuvers surgical instruments, such as the scalpel, scissors, and bovie. The surgeon performs every technique with the instrument controls while the technology embedded in the robot scales, filters and translates the exact movements of the surgeon. The pencil-sized instruments make it possible for surgical procedures to be performed through incisions less than 1 cm and with extraordinarily higher quality.

It is quickly becoming the preferred treatment for removal of the prostate following early diagnosis of prostate cancer. It has been used successfully in thousands of procedures worldwide.

For most patients, da Vinci prostatectomy offers numerous potential benefits over open prostatectomy, including:

• Significantly less pain
• Less blood loss
• Less scarring
• Shorter recovery time
• Faster return to daily activities
• Better clinical outcomes

The da Vinci is also being used for gynecologic surgery at Sherman, and in the future may be used for cardiothoracic surgery.

Visit us on our website to learn more about the benefits of the da Vinci Surgical System, view a list of doctors at Sherman who are currently performing surgeries using da Vinci, and more.