UF Urology
Robotic Center & The da Vinci® System
The Department of Urology Introduces New Minimally Invasive Surgery
| “The da Vinci® System offers minimally invasive capabilities to explore the latest frontiers in clinical medicine.” Dr. Sijo Parekattil Co-Director of Robotic Surgery Department of Urology University of Florida |
Starting March 2007, the Department of Urology at the University of Florida began offering a new alternative for the treatment of prostate cancer. The Department has recently established a Robotic Prostate Surgery Program here at Shands Hospital through which prostate cancer patients can be treated and cured with high precision, while avoiding the side effects typically encountered with other forms of prostate cancer therapy.
Dr. Sijo Parekattil and his colleagues are developing new and highly sophisticated techniques by which the loss of potency and urinary control after the procedure can be avoided. The Shands Robotic Prostatectomy® is an innovative procedure that will improve Urologic cancer care in the State of Florida and beyond. There are a variety of potential benefits that can 
be seen by using the Shands Robotic Prostatectomy® over traditional open surgery, such as:
- Less pain and scarring
- Less risk of infections from wounds
- Less blood loss and fewer transfusions
- Shorter hospital stay
- Faster return to normal activities
This surgical system has been operated in tens of thousands of minimally-invasive procedures worldwide, but is now available for the first time ever in the Gainesville area. This robotic technology has the ability to bring surgery beyond the limits of the human hand by introducing precise, versatile instrument movement and incorporating three-dimensional visualization to aid your surgeon. This innovative computer-enhanced technology can be combined with our surgeon’s skill to promote comfort and safety and improve patient recuperation.
Johannes Vieweg, M.D., professor and chairman of UF’s Department of Urology, was instrumental in bringing the robotic surgery program to Shands. Surgeons from urology will be the first users of the robot. They will perform prostate and kidney surgery, until other applications of the robot are approved by Shands.
The surgeon is a few feet away from the patient at a technologically enhanced console. The patient is constantly monitored using a high-powered camera, and this technology also allows the surgeon to guide the arms of the robot (which grasp a variety of surgical tools). These surgical tools can be used to facilitate the patient’s operation by employing only minimally small incisions.
This system ensures that the surgeon’s wrists are secured into da Vinci® System instruments. These instruments allow the surgeon to function as he would in a conventional surgery and have no limitations on his range of motion. Also serving as a benefit to the surgeon is the magnification capacity (ten times that of the naked eye) of the da Vinci® System’s monitors. The operating area is significantly clearer and the surgeon is still in complete control of his procedures.
The Shands Robotic Prostatectomy® is well-aligned with the Department of Urology’s vision in that it provides innovative techniques to the patient while still maintaining the utmost quality for the patient.