Bay Area Urology Associates, P.C.

Appointments: 231.935.0322

About da Vinci ® Surgery

da Vinci® Cystectomy

The bladder is an organ that stores urine and is located inside the lower part of the abdomen. Bladder cancer is a malignant growth in cells that comprise the lining of the bladder. Over 68,810 new cases of bladder cancer are diagnosed in the U.S. yearly. 1

Treatment Options

Treatment options depend on the stage of bladder cancer. There are four standard treatment options for bladder cancer:

  • Surgery
  • Radiation
  • Chemotherapy
  • Biologic Therapy

Depending on the patient's type and stage of bladder cancer, several treatments may be used in combination to increase the likelihood of a cure. Surgery is the dominant bladder cancer therapy chosen, and is performed in over 90% of bladder cancers (either alone are in combination with another therapy). 2 For patients with muscle invasive bladder cancer, a radical cystectomy is the preferred form of treatment. 3

Surgical Treatment: Cystectomy

A cystectomy is the removal of all or part of the bladder and possibly the removal of nearby lymph nodes and organs that may contain cancer. If the bladder is removed, the surgeon creates a new way for urine to leave the body. In some cases, a urinary diversion is performed to create a new way for the body to store and pass urine. 4

Cystectomy is traditionally performed using an open approach, which requires a large abdominal incision. Another approach, conventional laparoscopy, is less invasive, but limits the doctor's dexterity, visualization and control, compared to open surgery.

da Vinci® Surgery

If your doctor recommends surgery to treat bladder cancer, you may be a candidate for a breakthrough, minimally invasive approach - da Vinci® Surgery. da Vinci Surgery uses state-of-the-art technology to help your doctor perform a more precise operation than conventional instrumentation allows.

da Vinci Cystectomy incorporates the best techniques of open surgery – including comprehensive cancer control – and applies them to a robotic-assisted, minimally invasive approach. da Vinci Cystectomy offers patients several potential benefits over open surgery, including:

  • Less risk of death2
  • Less blood loss3,4
  • Lower risk of major complications2,4
  • Less narcotic pain medicine needed3
  • Less use of IV feeding tube2
  • Quicker recovery of bowel function3
  • Shorter hospital stay4
  • Minimal scarring

da Vinci Surgery: Precision and Dexterity

For many patients, the precision and dexterity of the da Vinci Surgical System may mean their doctors can offer a minimally invasive bladder cancer surgery. If you are facing bladder cancer surgery, talk to a doctor who performs da Vinci Surgery.

As with any surgery, these benefits cannot be guaranteed since surgery is unique to each patient and procedure. All surgeries, including da Vinci Surgery, involve risk of major complications. Before you decide on surgery, discuss treatment options with your doctor. Understanding the risks of each treatment can help you make the best decision for your individual situation.

This procedure is performed using the da Vinci Surgical System, a state-of-the-art surgical platform. By overcoming the limits of both traditional open and laparoscopic surgery, da Vinci is changing the experience of surgery for people around the world.

If you are facing bladder cancer surgery, talk to a doctor who performs da Vinci Surgery.

As with any surgery, these benefits cannot be guaranteed since surgery is specific to each patient, condition and procedure. It is important to talk to your doctor about all treatment options, including the risks and benefits. This information can help you make the best decision for your situation.


  1. Parkin DM; The global burden of urinary bladder cancer. Clinical Trial Service Unit and Epidemiological Studies Unit, University of Oxford, Old Road Campus, Headington, Oxford, UK. max.parkin@ctsu.ox.ac.uk Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19054893
  2. Yu HY, Hevelone ND, Lipsitz SR, Kowalczyk KJ, Nguyen PL, Choueiri TK, Kibel AS, Hu JC. Comparative Analysis of Outcomes and Costs Following Open Radical Cystectomy Versus Robot-Assisted Laparoscopic Radical Cystectomy: Results From the US Nationwide Inpatient Sample. Eur Urol. 2012 Jun;61(6):1239-44. Epub 2012 Mar 30.
  3. Nix J, Smith A, Kurpad R, Nielsen ME, Wallen EM, Pruthi RS. Prospective Randomized Controlled Trial of Robotic versus Open Radical Cystectomy for Bladder Cancer: Perioperative and Pathologic Results, Eur Urol(2009), doi: 10.1016/j.eururo.2009.10.024.
  4. Ng CK, Kauffman EC, Lee MM, Otto BJ, Portnoff A, Ehrlich JR, Schwartz MJ, Wang GJ, Scherr DS. A Comparison of Postoperative Complications in Open versus Robotic Cystectomy. Eur Urol(2009) doi: 10.1016/j.eururo.2009.06.001
  5. Bladder Cancer Treatment; Treatment Option Overview. National Cancer Institute. Available from: http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/pdq/treatment/bladder/Patient/page4

While clinical studies support the effectiveness of the da Vinci Surgical System when used in minimally invasive surgery, individual results may vary. There are no guarantees of outcome. All surgeries involve the risk of major complications. Before you decide on surgery, discuss treatment options with your doctor. Understanding the risks of each treatment can help you make the best decision for your individual situation. Surgery with the da Vinci Surgical System may not be appropriate for every individual; it may not be applicable to your condition. Always ask your doctor about all treatment options, as well as their risks and benefits. Only your doctor can determine whether da Vinci Surgery is appropriate for your situation. The clinical information and opinions, including any inaccuracies expressed in this material by patients or doctor about da Vinci Surgery are not necessarily those of Intuitive Surgical, Inc. and should not be considered as substitute for medical advice provided by your doctor. All people depicted unless otherwise noted are models. © 2012 Intuitive Surgical. All rights reserved. Intuitive, Intuitive Surgical, da Vinci, da Vinci S, da Vinci Si, Single-Site, InSite, TilePro and EndoWrist are trademarks or registered trademarks of Intuitive Surgical. All other product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

Content provided by Intuitive Surgical. For more information, please visit www.davincisurgery.com

PN 874204 Rev B 5/12 U 07/06/2012

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