UPDATE - Issue 29 - Spring 2007
Dawn of Robotic Surgery era
Robotic surgery for prostate cancer has well and truly arrived. From about 750 robotic prostatectomies performed worldwide using the da Vinci™ robot in 2002, this number looks set to reach 48,000 in 2007. Robotic-assisted surgery will account for 40% of all radical prostatectomies performed in the USA this year. Unfortunately, access to this technology is much more limited outside the USA. There are six da Vinci™ robots in the UK, two of which are in private hospitals. Each machine costs over £1 million with running costs of £100,000 per annum.
Prostate Research Campaign UK is a strong supporter of robotic surgery in the UK. It is funding ongoing research through a grant at Guy's Hospital in London, specifically looking at the ergonomic aspects of robotic surgery. It has also funded a one-year Travelling Scholarship to enable Mr. Declan Murphy, a senior urology trainee from London, to pursue further training in laparoscopic and robotic surgery at the Royal Melbourne Hospital in Australia. Mr. Murphy looks forward to returning as a consultant urological surgeon in 2008 to offer laparoscopic and robotic surgery to prostate cancer sufferers in the UK. His article on this subject can be found on our web site here.