Robotic-Assisted Surgery

Greenwich Hospital’s advanced technology features the daVinci® robotic system, a breakthrough platform for minimally-invasive surgery. Robotic surgery can be used to perform a wide array of urologic procedures, including cystectomy, prostatectomy, and nephrectomy.

The daVinci® robotic system allows surgeons to more easily:

• Access hard-to-reach organs such as the prostate gland, kidneys and ureters (the tubes that transport urine from the kidneys to the bladder)
• Perform technically challenging procedures and tasks, including stitching, with unmatched precision to preserve healthy tissue and nerves.

The advantages of this minimally invasive surgery include:

• Significantly less pain
• Less blood loss
• Fewer complications
• Less scarring
• A shorter hospital stay
• Quicker return to normal daily activities
• Improved cancer control
• Less risk of infection
• Less chance of damaging nerves involved in urinary control and sexual function
• Faster return to potency and urinary control
• Better clinical outcomes

Prostate Surgery

At Greenwich Hospital, urologists can perform robotic prostatectomy (removal of the prostate) using only a few small incisions. Robotic surgery allows for a quicker return to recovery and improved outcomes for continence and potency.

Kidney Surgery

People with kidney conditions can benefit from robot-assisted minimally invasive surgery. The potential benefits of robot-assisted kidney surgery over conventional methods include increased potential for kidney preservation.

Kidney Cancer

Surgery known as nephrectomy is the most common treatment for kidney cancer. Robotic technology is most applicable in a partial nephrectomy where surgeons only remove the tumor, while sparing the rest of the kidney. Surgeons perform this procedure when both kidneys have cancer, if the patient has only one kidney, or if a small tumor is present in only one kidney.

Ureteropelvic Junction (UPJ) Obstruction

UPJ obstruction occurs when a blockage exists between the kidneys to one of the ureters, the tubes that move urine into the bladder. This blockage causes urine to build up, damaging the kidneys. Surgery known as pyeloplasty can correct the blockage to allow urine to flow normally. In robotic pyeloplasty, surgeons remove the scar tissue from the blocked area and connect the healthy part of the kidney to the healthy ureter.