Health Signs - Spring 2011 - (Page 7)

Less Is More Minimally invasive robotic surgery for prostate cancer offers several advantages over traditional approach F Washington Hospital urologist Mark Saleh, M.D., says his patients who undergo minimally invasive robotic prostate surgery typically experience less pain, shorter hospitalization and fewer complications. SEE HOW ROBOTIC SURGERY WORKS Two new videos showcasing the capabilities of minimally invasive robotic surgery are now available to view at whhs.com/roboticsurgery. Few people used home computers, mobile phones or the Internet in the 1980s. A generation later, such technologies have revolutionized our daily lives. Likewise, modern medical advances have transformed the way many physicians detect and treat disease. Mark Saleh, M.D., a urologist on the Washington Hospital medical staff has been using a robot to perform minimally invasive surgeries for three years. In that short time, it has become the treatment of choice for men who have early stage prostate cancer. A radical prostatectomy—surgery to remove the prostate—traditionally required an incision from the navel to the pelvic bone. Using Washington Hospital Healthcare System’s da Vinci robot, Saleh achieves the same result with four small incisions. “Minimally invasive surgeries typically result in less scarring, shorter hospitalization and fewer complications such as blood loss and the need for transfusions,” Saleh says. As a result, patients heal faster and experience less pain, allowing them to return to work in two to four weeks, instead of six. “The other advantage is that the instruments have multiple joints that give us a better range of motion,” he says. “It simulates the human hand and wrist, which is much more intuitive for actions such as suturing and retracting, making it easier for surgeons to perform complex operations. “We use two cameras—one for each eye. The doctor is at a console looking at a stereoscopic monitor. It’s three-dimensional, instead of two-dimensional like a traditional TV screen. It simulates human vision and gives you depth perception.” Minimally invasive surgery offers so many advantages, “basically every prostatectomy patient who is a good candidate decides to do it,” Saleh says. Patients with more advanced cancer, other severe medical problems or scar tissue from prior surgeries may not be good candidates for robotic surgery, he clarifies. Screening for prostate cancer involves both a physical exam and a blood test. Early detection and treatment are so important, the American Urological Association recommends men talk to their doctor about doing a baseline screening by age 40. For the 1-in-6 men diagnosed with prostate cancer, it’s comforting to know minimally invasive robotic surgery is available. Perhaps the next generation will regard traditional surgery the same way we view rotary telephones. • Screenings Save Lives IS ROBOTIC SURGERY RIGHT FOR YOU? To learn more about minimally invasive robotic surgery for treatment of prostate cancer, as well as renal and colorectal cancers, hernias, appendixes, gallbladders and other surgeries, visit whhs.com/roboticsurgery. 100% 90% . Source: American Cancer Society Prostate cancer has a relatively high survival rate in general. Five years after diagnosis, the survival rate is nearly . Ten years after diagnosis, the survival rate is SPRING 2011 7 http://www.whhs.com/roboticsurgery http://www.whhs.com/roboticsurgery

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Health Signs - Spring 2011

Health Signs - Spring 2011
Community Classes, Free Screenings and Health Fairs in Fremont
Good Health is in Your Hands: Watch the Inhealth Channel and Other Videos on Your iPad
Count on Washington Hospital’s ER for Efficient Care When it Matters Most
What You Need to Know if You’re Considering Knee Replacement Surgery
Avoid a Repeat Cardiac Event by Embracing a Healthier Lifestyle

Health Signs - Spring 2011