Da Vinci Prostatectomy

Da Vinci prostatectomy is the specialty of Dr. Fernando J Bianco, the Chief of Robotic Surgery for the Columbia University Division of Urology at the Mount Sinai Medical Center, in Miami Beach Florida. Urology Specialists robotic surgeon, Dr. Bianco specializes in prostate cancer prevention with prostate screening, prostate exams, and has performed hundreds of laparoscopic and robotic urologic surgery procedures. When the da Vinci surgery for the prostate cancer is performed, the entire prostate is removed, and it is commonly referred to as a radical prostatectomy. Prior to his appointment as the Chief of Robotic Surgery for the Columbia University Division of Urology at Mount Sinai Hospital, Dr. Bianco was the Chief of Urology Oncology for the Department of Urology at The George Washington University Medical Faculty Associates. He also served as the Director of the Prostate Program for the GW Cancer Institute (GWCI).

Da Vinci prostatectomy is performed with laparoscopic surgical instruments that have the advantage of completing the prostate cancer surgery with only several small holes in the stomach area, instead of the traditional long slit through the abdomen, which creates a large scar. A laparoscopic prostatectomy or robotic prostate surgery also has the advantage of a faster healing and recovery time. This can allow the patient to have a shorter hospital stay. Dr. Bianco has investigated cancer diagnostics, predicting the quality of life, and the impact that specific urological disorders will have on patients. Doctor Bianco has performed many da Vinci prostatectomies throughout his career. He also performs robotic bladder surgery if the cancer bladder invasion is deep and robotic kidney surgery for renal cell carcinoma with the da Vinci surgical system.

As the chief of robotic surgery, Dr. Bianco trains the urology residents, in the fellowship program, at Mount Sinai Hospital. Dr. Bianco also trains visiting urologists in the minimally invasive robotic procedures such as the kidney surgery called nephrectomy or partial nephrectomy to remove the cancerous kidney mass, the bladder surgery called cystectomy, the reconstruction of the renal pelvis called pyeloplasty, and the da Vinci prostatectomy for prostate cancer.  

Da Vinci prostatectomy removes the entire prostate and may include the removal of several other organs near the prostate, depending on the location of the cancer. However, when Dr Bianco uses the da Vinci robot during his minimally invasive prostatectomy procedures, he also will perform the surgery in such a way that the nerve bundles that are adjacent to the prostate are not damaged, This nerve sparing technique that Dr. Bianco performs, helps his patients maintain their bladder function to hold their urine and void without complications. This nerve sparing technique also helps maintain sexual function.

da Vinci Prostatectomy (continued)