Baylor Dallas Features Minimally Invasive Surgery to Treat Prostate Cancer

Baylor University Medical Center at Dallas now offers appropriate men who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer the option of undergoing a minimally invasive, robotic-assisted prostatectomy with the da Vinci^® Robotic Surgical System.

During the da Vinci^® procedure, your urologist on the medical staff at Baylor Dallas, works through several half-inch incisions or ports that accommodate a camera and robotic instruments. The camera magnifies the field of view about 10 times and provides a 3-D image. Sitting at a nearby console, your physician controls the robot's "wrist," which holds the instruments and mimics the movements of the human hand.

"The magnification and dexterity of the robot allow for better control, more precise tissue removal and less trauma to the surrounding nerves and tissues," said Matthew Shuford, M. D., a urologist on the medical staff at Baylor Dallas. "Sparing the nerves and tissues is critical, because damage may be linked to erectile dysfunction that can accompany traditional prostate surgery."

After an overnight stay in the hospital, patients can typically return to their normal routines in about a week.