34 Development of a Robotic Prostatectomy Program

Presently, one of every eight radical prostactectomies per-formed in the United States is being done laparoscopically utilizing the da Vinci ® Surgical System (Intuitive Surgical, Sunnyvale, CA). More than 115 hospitals in America use the da Vinci robot to perform radical prostatectomy. Con-tinued data collection and technical refinements are needed to address controversial issues such as positive margin rates, continence rates, and impotence. Patients are requesting minimally invasive approaches to surgery, and an increasing number of hospitals and surgeons are adopt-ing surgical robotic techniques. Establishment of a robotic urology program requires a number of vital elements combined with patience and persistence. A roadmap to success seems to be emerging, which begins with the development of a qualified team o