Bladder Cancer
A cystectomy is the removal of all or part of the bladder, and possibly the removal of nearby lymph nodes and organs, that may contain cancer. If the bladder is removed, the surgeon creates a new way for urine to leave the body. In some cases, a urinary diversion is performed to create a new way for the body to store and pass urine.
Cystectomy is traditionally performed using an open approach, which requires a large abdominal incision. Another approach, conventional laparoscopy, is less invasive, but limits the doctor's dexterity, visualization and control, compared to open surgery.
If your doctor recommends surgery to treat bladder cancer, you may be a candidate for a breakthrough, minimally invasive approach – robotic surgery. At Holy Cross Health in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, our surgeons use the da Vinci® Surgery System to perform a more precise operation than conventional instrumentation allows.
At Holy Cross, da Vinci® Cystectomy incorporates the best techniques of open surgery – including comprehensive cancer control – and applies them to a robotic-assisted, minimally invasive approach. da Vinci® Cystectomy offers patients several potential benefits over open surgery, including:
- Less risk of death
- Less blood loss
- Lower risk of major complications
- Less narcotic pain medicine needed
- Less use of IV feeding tube
- Quicker recovery of bowel function
- Shorter hospital stay
- Minimal scarring
As with any surgery, these benefits cannot be guaranteed, as surgery is both patient- and procedure-specific. While cystectomy using the da Vinci® Surgical System is considered safe and effective, it may not be appropriate for every individual. Always ask your doctor about all treatment options, as well as their risks and benefits.
Contact a physician who performs minimally invasive robotic bladder surgery: