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Robot-Assisted Prostate Surgery Linked to Problems

Study finds potential issue with non-invasive surgery option

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Oct 14, 2009 6:28 AM CDT
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(Newser) – Men who undergo minimally invasive, robot-assisted prostate surgery were more than twice as likely to suffer from impotence and incontinence a year and a half later, compared to those receiving conventional surgery, a new Harvard study has found. Some 4.7% of those treated with laparoscopic surgery, using remote-controlled techniques, developed the problems, compared to 2.1% of those treated without them.

But the now-dominant robot-assisted procedure had advantages as well: patients were out of the hospital a day sooner, and had fewer short-term complications or respiratory problems. Both procedures were equally effective at controlling cancer, and the study’s lead author says the rapid growth of laparoscopic surgery proves that consumers are highly susceptible to marketing campaigns for expensive new treatments, even when they haven’t been proven more effective.

In this Oct. 10, 2009, photo a billboard advertising robotic assisted surgery hangs outside Fenway Park in Boston.
In this Oct. 10, 2009, photo a billboard advertising robotic assisted surgery hangs outside Fenway Park in Boston.   (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Dr. Greg Zagaja, left, performs a robotic prostatectomy on a patient at University of Chicago Medical Center using a da Vinci Si robotics system, center, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2009 in Chicago.
Dr. Greg Zagaja, left, performs a robotic prostatectomy on a patient at University of Chicago Medical Center using a da Vinci Si robotics system, center, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2009 in Chicago.   (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)
Dr. Greg Zagaja, center, prepares to perform a robotic prostatectomy on a patient at University of Chicago Medical Center using a da Vinci Si robotics system, left, Tuesday in Chicago.
Dr. Greg Zagaja, center, prepares to perform a robotic prostatectomy on a patient at University of Chicago Medical Center using a da Vinci Si robotics system, left, Tuesday in Chicago.   (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)
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COMMENTS
Showing 1 of 1 comment
Reader587
Oct 14, 2009 6:50 AM CDT
The DaVinci robot is all marketing hype...the surgery is still invasive as the statistics are now showing. Anytime there is cutting involved with this prostate surgery, there is going to be a high rate of impotence and incontinence issues. There are other forms of treatments for prostate cancer that are not as invasive nor "fatal" to the vital parts. I am a prostate cancer survivor with neither issue of impotence or incontinence. I had proton beam treatments which are now available at many proton centers in the USA and abroad. One needs to study the alternatives before going under the knife, robot or not!

 
prostate cancer • surgery • robots • robotics • laparoscopy

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