A doctor guides robotic arms to do urologic surgery. This is
done through several tiny “keyhole” incisions. Reasons for
Procedure Examples of urologic surgeries that have been
successfully done using this technique include: - Prostatectomy
—to remove part or all of a prostate gland found to contain
prostate cancer - Pyeloplasty —to repair an abnormality of the
kidney and nearby ureter (tube that leads from the kidney to the
bladder) - Cystectomy —to remove all or part of the bladder to
treat bladder cancer - Nephrectomy —to remove all or part of the
kidney because of kidney cancer, kidney stones, or kidney
disease - Ureteral reimplantation—to disconnect and reinsert the
ureter from the bladder to keep urine from flowing backwards
from the bladder into the kidneys - Procedures requiring fine
dissection and suturing (eg, reconnection of the ureter)
Compared to more traditional procedures, robotic-assisted
surgery may result in: - Less scarring - Reduced recovery times
- Less risk of infection - Less blood loss