Preparing for the Procedure
Preparation for a robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy is similar to that for traditional surgery. You will be given general anesthesia so that you’re asleep during the procedure.
The surgeon and members of the surgical team will remain by your side. Your surgeon directs the operation and will:
- Operate the da Vinci robot at a special console in the operating room
- Make six small incisions in the abdomen, each about one to two centimeters
- Precisely remove the prostate
- Minimize or eliminate damage to surrounding healthy tissue
- Insert a catheter to drain your bladder as you recover
The Road to Recovery
You can expect recovery times to be less than those for traditional open prostate surgery. Most patients will follow a recovery schedule after surgery similar to the one below:
1 day – Hospital discharge after surgery
7-10 days – Catheter removal, begin exercises to strengthen continence and erectile function
2-3 weeks – Return to work
4 weeks – Active in sports
Your care team will continue to take active and effective steps to return you to full health and get you back to your normal life.