Robotic Surgery
SMART surgery ( Samadi Modified Advanced Robotic Technique ) is an innovative technique, a robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (PLR), developed by Dr. Samadi, which reduces the surgical time to less than two hours and the recovery hospital stay to less than 24 hours.
Dr. Samadi performs robotic prostate cancer surgery using the da Vinci robotic system. This minimally invasive procedure employs the latest advances in robotics and computerized technology to remove the cancerous prostate.
The surgeon's console houses the master controls used by Dr. Samadi to manipulate the patient-side cart and EndoWrist instruments. Dr. Samadi's expert hands, translated to the EndoWrists, control all of the robot's movements. It remains the surgeon who is in control of the robot at all times throughout the procedure.
During the procedure Dr. Samadi has a 3D view of the surgical field through the Insite vision system. This is a great improvement over the traditional surgery and the 2D view of laparoscopic surgery. High definition video cameras give 10X to 15X magnification for greater depth perception and a clearer field of view. It allows enhanced visualization of the prostate capsule, while taking care of the neurovascular bundles responsible for erectile function and reconnecting the urethra to the bladder.
The robotic surgery capability provided by the system da Vinci offers various advantages over the traditional laparoscopic surgical approach to treating prostate cancer compared objectively in the following areas:
The da Vinci system in robotic surgery often provides superior clinical outcomes compared to traditional procedures. This is because the da Vinci system allows the surgeon a full three-dimensional, high-resolution view.
The da Vinci View Console screen is equipped to provide the surgeon with a revolutionary three-dimensional and multi-level spectrum magnification. Traditional scope-assisted surgery typically provides a much lower resolution image, and a much more limited field of view. On the other hand, the da Vinci's sensitive electronics and one-centimeter diameter surgical arms allow the surgeon to perform high-precision movements within the incision.
This means that malignant tissue can be removed with an efficiency and ease unprecedented before the era of robotic surgery. This increased precision equates to a reduced likelihood of relapse due to the loss of cancerous tissue. The precision of the da Vinci System allows the surgeon to avoid greatly damaging healthy prostate tissue, which improves clinical outcomes, reduces scar tissue build-up and contributes to a shorter overall recovery period.
These infections are often the leading causes of serious complications that can hinder your ability to recover quickly and adequately from your procedure. The da Vinci System greatly mitigates the risk of infection in a number of ways. First, the size of the incision(s) is actually significantly smaller with robotic surgery than with the traditional procedure.
A non-robotic prostatectomy typically requires the surgeon to make a six to eight inch vertical incision in the patient's lower abdomen. A relatively large incision exposes the patient to a number of operative and infectious agents post-operatively. That is, not only is the open incision site susceptible to any infectious agents during the procedure, but also the unhealed wound closure resulting from the incision may be at risk for harmful infections.
Postoperative infections are the more common of the two infection risk categories, as hospital wards that cannot be maintained at extremely high sterility level than robotic-only operating rooms. The da Vinci Robotic Surgical System, however, uses a much less invasive technique that requires four to five smaller incisions of two inches each. Each of these smaller incisions heals much faster than the six to eight inch incision needed in traditional surgery. Fewer sutures are needed to close the incisions of the robotic system. This speeds recovery time, as well as being less painful for you, as the patient.
When your doctor determines that surgery is the best treatment option and refers you to an oncologic surgeon, you can be assured that Dr. Samadi and the da Vinci System offer you the best chance for a complete and convenient recovery.
Da Vinci robotic surgical technology optimizes the chances of faster recovery versus traditional surgical prostatectomy. The smaller incisions required to manipulate the operating arms heal much faster, require fewer stitches and are less vulnerable to rupture or infection.
The high-precision movements of the robotic arms allow for cleaner removal of malignant tissue. Such precision also results in a more targeted approach that reduces damage to healthy tissue during the operation. The design of the operating robotic arms allows the entire procedure to be performed without the need for operating tools against the incision walls. All of these advantages translate into a faster and less worrisome recovery period.
The size of the incision required to perform a traditional prostatectomy results in significant scarring of the patient's lower abdomen. The robotic prostatectomy procedure allows incisions that can heal with little or no visible scarring. In addition to the obvious aesthetic value, minimizing scarring on the inner walls of the incision can promote better healing of the prostate. Excess scar tissue that accumulates can sometimes interfere with proper prostate function. Although this complication is usually considered rare, it is worth considering exploring treatment options. The precision of robotic surgery offers an inherent solution to this potential difficulty. By minimizing the overall size of the incision needed to remove the cancerous tissue this risk of scar tissue related complications is greatly mitigated.
Robot-assisted surgery. The surgeon operates while sitting comfortably at the da Vinci Robotic System console, viewing a 3-D image of the operation. The surgeon's hand, wrist and finger movements become the surgical instruments inside the patient as the robotic prostatectomy is completed.
This part of the robot provides that the instrument arms are completely under the surgeon's control. The laparoscopic arms rotate on their axis in the 1 cm operating ports, eliminating the use of the patient's body wall to take advantage of and minimize tissue damage. Support members of the surgical team assist in setting up the appropriate instruments, preparing the 1 cm port on the patient, as well as supervising the laparoscopic arms and tools that are used each time a robotic prostatectomy is underway.
This component provides true 3-D images of the operative field. Operative images have been enhanced, refined and optimized with image synchronizers, high-intensity illuminators and camera control units during the course of robot-assisted surgery.