da Vinci® robotic-assisted surgery system

Our experienced consultant urologists can offer you more precise and personalised care thanks to advanced robotic-assisted urological procedures. 

While robotic-assisted procedures have been performed in urology for over 20 years, the da Vinci® surgical system is the latest innovation in the field of minimally invasive urological surgery. It’s used for procedures including prostatectomy, partial cystectomy, pyeloplasty and nephrectomy. 

With personalised surgical plans, high-definition visualisations, smaller cuts (incisions) and accurate surgical movements, the da Vinci® system means you are less likely to experience complications during your procedure and more likely to experience lower pain levels during your recovery. This promotes better outcomes and a quicker road to recovery.

Robotic surgery is more accurately referred to as robot-assisted surgery. This is because the surgery is still performed by an experienced surgeon. However, instead of the surgeon holding the instruments, the instruments are held by robotic arms, which along with the 3D camera system are carefully controlled by the surgeon who is sitting at a special console. 

Robot-assisted surgery is performed through small cuts to be made into the body and is, therefore, considered minimally invasive surgery. In some cases, robot-assisted surgery allows better access to difficult-to-reach parts of the body. 

The robotic arms not only hold the surgical instruments but also a high-definition camera. This allows the surgeon to see a more detailed, magnified view of the area being operated on. The surgeon can then make the appropriate movements to perform the surgery, which are precisely replicated by the robotic arms. 

Robot-assisted surgery, therefore, reduces the risk of complications, resulting in faster recovery times and improved outcomes. 

The da Vinci® surgical system is used for many urological procedures including removal of the prostate (prostatectomy), kidney (nephrectomy), part of the bladder (partial cystectomy) or blockages in the ureter (pyeloplasty).

The system comes in three parts: a patient cart, surgeon console and vision cart. 

The patient cart is positioned next to the operating table and comprises four robotic arms: one arm holds a high-definition 3D camera and the other three arms hold the surgical instruments. 

These robotic arms precisely mimic the movements made by your surgeon but with a greater range of movement than possible with human hands and wrists. Also, thanks to special technology, the robotic arms filter out any shakes in your surgeon’s hands to ensure smoother movements. 

The surgeon console is also located in the operating room and is where your surgeon will sit to control the surgical instruments. It has a wraparound screen that your surgeon will use to view real-time, high-definition, magnified 3D images of the area being operated on. 

Your surgeon will make a small cut through which they will insert the 3D camera and guide it to the appropriate position to get an immersive view of the area to be operated on. This provides a magnified view of the site than possible with human eyes alone. 

The vision cart allows the different parts of the da Vinci® system to communicate with each other and transmit real-time images to your surgeon. 

The da Vinci® surgical system for robotic-assisted surgery is used for a range of urological procedures at Spire Edinburgh Hospitals, which usually involve the removal of part or all of a tissue or organ. 

Due to the greater precision of the da Vinci® surgical system and the smaller cuts needed, these procedures can be carried out with fewer complications and shorter recovery times. 

Prostatectomy 

A prostatectomy involves removal of part or all of the prostate, which is a walnut-sized gland that sits below the bladder, surrounds the urethra (the tube through which urine leaves the body), and produces seminal fluid to nourish and transport sperm. 

A prostatectomy is, therefore, used to treat prostate cancer to prevent its spread, and to treat benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH), which is also known as an enlarged prostate. 

In the case of BPH, a simple prostatectomy is performed to remove the part of the prostate that is pushing against the urethra and interrupting urine flow. In the case of prostate cancer, a radical prostatectomy is usually performed where all of the prostate is removed, alongside surrounding tissues, such as seminal vesicles. 

Partial cystectomy

A partial cystectomy involves removal of part of the bladder and is usually performed to treat bladder cancer at an early stage when it is still localised. It is most often used to treat a rare type of bladder cancer called adenocarcinoma of the bladder. 

As a partial cystectomy only removes part of the bladder, you will still be able to pass urine as normal, although your bladder will be smaller so you may need to urinate more frequently. 

Pyeloplasty 

A pyleoplasty involves removal of a blockage in the ureter (the tube that carries urine from the kidneys to the bladder) at the point where the ureter meets the kidney (ureteropelvic junction). The blocked part of the ureter is removed and the remaining part of the ureter is reattached to the kidneys.

In adults, a blockage can occur at the ureteropelvic junction due to kidney stones or scar tissue from trauma or surgery. 

Nephrectomy

A nephrectomy involves removal of a kidney. It is usually performed to treat kidney cancer or a persistent kidney infection, or to remove a noncancerous growth or tissue damaged by kidney stones or injury. It is also used to remove a healthy kidney from a donor for transplantation. 

A nephrectomy can be partial, that is, removal of part of the kidney, or radical, where all of the kidney and usually the nearby adrenal gland and lymph nodes are removed. 

Smaller cuts 

The da Vinci® surgical system is the latest innovation in minimally invasive surgery, which means it uses the smallest possible cuts. This causes less trauma to your body during surgery and results in smaller scars and reduced pain after surgery. 

Greater precision 

The technology behind the da Vinci® system means you will benefit from the expertise of your surgeon but with the precision delivered by the system’s robotic arms. These arms precisely replicate your surgeon’s hand and wrist movements but offer a greater range of movement and filter out any shakes in your surgeon’s hands for smoother, more exacting motions. 

Fewer complications 

Due to the high-precision nature of the da Vinci® system — from its in-depth, 3D, real-time images of the surgical site to the smooth, meticulous movements of its robotic arms — tissue damage is reduced and any resulting complications are, therefore, less likely to occur. 

A speedier recovery 

The da Vinci® system executes complex surgical procedures with less tissue damage and bleeding compared to non-robotic surgery. This means your body can heal faster and you will be in less pain after surgery. Consequently, your hospital stay and recovery time will be shorter. 

Improved outcomes

As the advanced technology of the da Vinci® system means your surgery will be less invasive and you will be less likely to encounter complications, you can look forward to improved surgical outcomes and a quicker return to your usual activities.

When you choose Spire Healthcare, you can look forward to fast access to the diagnostic tests and treatments you need, alongside personalised care from our experienced consultants who are experts in their fields and recognised as such at both national and international levels. 

Our consultants’ dedication to staying at the forefront of medical care and providing patients with the best possible outcomes is why we continue to invest in the very latest in medical technology. This includes innovations such as robot-assisted surgery, whether that is Mako for orthopaedic procedures or the da Vinci® Xi system for urological procedures. 

Our goal is to make a positive difference in the lives of our patients through outstanding healthcare. This is why 98% of our patients are likely to recommend us to their family and friends and why 98% of our inspected hospitals and clinics are rated "Good" or "Outstanding" by health inspectors in England, Scotland and Wales.

Whatever treatment you need, you can rest assured that your Spire Healthcare care team will answer all of your questions and ensure you feel comfortable and confident with the care you will receive. What’s more, with our clear, inclusive pricing and flexible payment options to help you spread the cost, it is now easier for you to access our award-winning care. 

The da Vinci® surgical system is a cutting-edge technology that Spire Healthcare endeavours to make accessible to as many people as possible. This is why you will find the da Vinci® surgical system is available at Spire Healthcare hospitals that span the length and breadth of the UK, including:

• Spire Edinburgh Hospital
• Spire Murrayfield, Wirral Hospital (launching Spring 2025)
• Spire St Anthony’s Hospital, Surrey
• Spire Southampton Hospital

Robotic-assisted urological procedures have been carried out for over 20 years. The da Vinci Xi® system is the latest iteration of this advancing technology, and it is currently the most widely used multiport robotic surgery system in the world. 

Over 10 million robot-assisted procedures have been carried out using da Vinci® systems, and da Vinci® surgeries have been peer-reviewed in over 38,000 articles.

https://www.intuitive.com/en-gb/products-and-services/da-vinci  

https://isrg.intuitive.com/news-releases/news-release-details/intuitive-reaches-10-million-procedures-performed-using-da-vinci  

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Spire Healthcare does not endorse one medical product or device over another. Robotic arm-assisted surgery may not be suitable for some patients. Your consultant will help you decide which treatment is best for you.