Transforming Prostate Cancer Treatment: The Revolution of Robotic Surgery. My Journey from Open to Robotic Surgery

Patient Experience: Robotic Surgery vs. Open Surgery

Undergoing any surgical procedure can be a daunting experience, and it is natural to have questions about what to expect. Here's my detailed first hand insight of the difference in my patients experience and outcomes undergoing robotic surgery vs open surgery :

1. Incisions and Scarring -

Robotic Surgery : Tiny incisions are made, typically ranging from 0.5 to 1 centimeter, resulting in minimal scarring and reduced discomfort.

Open Surgery: A single large incision is made, which lead to more noticeable scarring and a longer healing process.

2. Pain and Discomfort -

Robotic Surgery: Patients often experience less postoperative pain and discomfort due to the smaller incisions and reduced tissue trauma. Patients were able to walk around within 6 hrs of surgery.

Open Surgery: The larger incision in open surgery often lead to more significant pain and a longer recovery period.

3. Recovery Time -

Robotic Surgery: Patients usually experienced a faster recovery and resumed their normal activities, including work and light exercises, within a week.

Open Surgery: Recovery time in open surgery took several weeks to months before patients could return to their routine activities.

4. Hospital Stay -

Robotic Surgery: The shorter hospital stay was a significant advantage of robotic surgery, with most patients being discharged within a day or two after the procedure.

Open Surgery: Open surgery typically required a longer hospital stay, ranging from several days to a week.

5. Complications and Risks -

Robotic Surgery: The HD and magnified(10X), 3 Dimensional image, provided us with a never before vision of the prostate . Combined with the 7 degrees of freedom of movement of Robotic Instruments we could remove the cancer with great precision along with minimising complications. The biggest benefit has been improved early Urinary Continence rates even in elderly patients. Thereby reducing the need to wear diapers for prolonged periods. Also minimally invasive nature of robotic surgery contributed to fewer wound and bowel complications and a lower risk of postoperative infections.

Open Surgery: Open surgery had a slightly higher rate of complications due to the trauma of larger incision and more significant tissue manipulation.

As a patient-centric surgeon, I could witness the significant difference in not only the Oncological Outcomes but also the Functional Outcomes of the patients first hand. Which cemented my decision to shift from Open to Robotic Surgery for Prostate Cancer.

I understand that the decision to undergo surgery can be challenging. My team and I are here to support and guide you through every step of your journey. Together, we will carefully evaluate your condition, discuss the best treatment options, and address any concerns you may have.

Robotic surgery has truly transformed the landscape of radical prostatectomy, offering improved outcomes and enhanced patient experiences. If you or a loved one is facing a prostate cancer diagnosis, I encourage you to consider the benefits of robotic surgery and reach out to our team for a comprehensive consultation.

Your well-being is at the heart of our practice, and we are committed to providing you with the highest quality care.

Wishing you health and healing,

Dr. Rohan Patel

MCH Urology

American Urology Association Fellow(USI-AUA FELLOWSHIP, USA)

Vattikuti Fellowship in Robotic Urooncology and Renal Transplant (Medanta, Delhi)

Vattikuti Robotic Scholarship