Weill Cornell Medical Center Scientists Research on Benefits of Robotic Prostatectomy

Scientists from Weill Cornell Medical Center have presented their research studies on Robotic Prostatectomy at the American Urological Association meeting from May 14 to 19. The effectiveness of robotic prostatectomy was one of the vital research topics to be presented.

On comparing open prostatectomy with robotic prostatectomy, it was found that there was no significant data to prove that one approach was better than the other for treating prostate cancer. The main objective of this meta-analysis was to compare the data available from 2002 to 2008 and to distinguish positive surgical margins. The presentation showed the complication rates for robotic radical prostatectomy, laparoscopic and open retropubic prostatectomy.

Dr. Ashutosh Tewari and his team explained that robot-assisted radical prostatectomy offers a host of benefits such as early oncologic outcomes and reduced preoperative morbidity when compared to conventional surgical methods. Same positive surgical margins were witnessed in open and laparoscopic surgeries. Reduction in rate of blood transfusions and blood loss and a shorter duration of hospital stay were the benefits of minimally invasive techniques when compared to conventional open approaches. With the help of a robot while performing surgery, further reduction in these factors was observed. The minimally invasive method of robotic cystectomy was considered effective and safe for elderly.