USA Health first on the Gulf Coast to perform prostatectomy using da Vinci SP
The robot-assisted surgical system allows for a single point of entry with the potential for less pain and shorter hospital stays for prostatectomy patients at USA Health.
By Nichelle Smith
nsmith@health.southalabama.edu
Christopher Keel, D.O., a urologist at USA Health University Urology, recently performed the first prostatectomy using the da Vinci SP (single port).
Utilizing the SP, a robot-assisted surgical system that allows for a single point of entry with the potential for less pain and a quicker recovery for patients, Keel was able to remove the entire prostate gland and surrounding lymph nodes through a single, 1-inch-wide incision in the abdomen.
“The da Vinci Single Port’s ability to use one incision creates a minimally invasive option for complex procedures, allowing greater control and access to narrow spaces,” Keel said. “Many patients will experience less pain, and most will be able to go home the same day as surgery.”
The surgical system includes three multi-jointed wristed instruments and a camera that all operate through a single cannula. The components work together around the target anatomy to provide careful precision during an operation, allowing for flexible port placement and excellent internal and external range of motion.
The addition of the SP – housed at USA Health University Hospital – expands the breadth of USA Health’s robotic surgery program, which includes two other da Vinci robotic systems that offer patients a number of different options for minimally invasive procedures.
