For Immediate Release
May 10, 2008

Faster recovery, shorter hospital stays for patients

BUFFALO, NY – Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI) is one of the world’s premier academic institutions offering robotic-assisted surgery for patients. Roswell Park introduced robotic-assisted surgery to the Buffalo-Niagara region in August 2004.

The Minimally Invasive Surgical (MIS) Center at RPCI has treated more than 500 patients for prostate cancer and more than 90 patients for bladder cancer using the da Vinci®  Surgical Robotic System and is now offering this surgical option to patients with specific gynecologic cancers.  

“Patients who have undergone robotic surgery have consistently reported high satisfaction with the procedure,” said James Mohler, MD, Chair of the Department of Urologic Oncology, RPCI. “Roswell Park’s commitment to robotic and minimally invasive surgery is transforming the way urologic cancer is treated in Western New York and throughout the country.”

For most patients, the benefits over traditional cancer surgery include shorter hospital stays, less pain, less risk of infection, less scarring, and faster recovery of continence. Long-term recovery of continence and erectile function seem similar to traditional open surgery.

The technology extends the surgeon’s capabilities by providing a three-dimensional view of the operating field and improves access to the surgical site through small ports that eliminate the need for a large incision.

Roswell Park is one of a few centers in the United States to pioneer robotic-assisted surgery for patients with invasive bladder cancer (radical cystectomy), and an RPCI study recently published in Journal of Urology reported this surgical option to be a safe alternative to conventional open surgery.

“Roswell Park is one of the premier institutions in the world performing robotic-assisted surgery for advanced bladder cancer,” said Khurshid A. Guru, MD, Director of Robotic Surgery at RPCI. “Our clinical research shows that patients experience less blood loss during the procedure, less post-operative pain and more rapid recovery, with respectable initial oncologic results. Long-term outcomes are still being evaluated.”

RPCI Offers Robotic Training and Mentoring

Surgical teams from as far away as Michigan and Florida have participated in Roswell Park robotic training and mentoring programs, which provide surgeons with the opportunity to perfect their technique and expand their surgical robotics programs. The course schedule includes a three-day training at RPCI, followed by two days at the mentored institution for mentoring, troubleshooting, development of a case plan and strategy and post-course follow-up.

 “By enhancing surgical capability through improved technology, we are able to provide patients with better clinical outcomes so they can return to active, productive lives more quickly,” said Dr. Mohler.

For more information about prostate cancer, call Roswell Park Cancer Institute at 1-877-ASK-RPCI (1-877-275-7724).

Roswell Park Cancer Institute, founded in 1898, is the nation’s first cancer research, treatment and education center and is the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center in Upstate New York. RPCI is a member of the prestigious National Comprehensive Cancer Network, an alliance of the nation’s leading cancer centers. Roswell Park has affiliate sites and collaborative programs in New York, Pennsylvania, and in China. For more information, visit RPCI’s website at www.roswellpark.org, call 1-877-ASK-RPCI (1-877-275-7724) or e-mail askrpci@roswellpark.org.

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