ROBOTIC SURGERY

Is robotic surgery nerve sparing?

[Artdude]

It certainly can be.  With the 10x magnification, the doctor's opportunity to spare your nerves increases.  It depends really on the extent of the cancer and the skill of the doctor.  Nerves can be spared with open radical retropubic surgery as well.  Dr. Patrick Walsh pioneered and improved upon this surgery.  As you know with the robot, the doctor's vision is assisted with the increased magnification and his movements are reduced to microsopic movements by the robot's "arms."  I believe your PC is supposed to be contained, right?  That helps.  If a doctor and patient agree before hand, nerves taken from the lower leg can be harvested and inserted in place of nerves that have to be removed or damaged.  From what i read about this--after I had my surgery--you have to discuss this option before hand because that is not done with the robot, but conventionally (i think).  Regardless it has to be decided before you are under--he just can't do it because he thinks it might be a good idea--you have to approve decision beforehand.  I think I "see" your "wheels turning" now that surgery is approaching.  I was thinking about that and continence issues almost from the beginning once I read about what would happen from the surgery.  It takes time, but we heal.  I wrote all this so that others who might need the information could see it and hopefully go do some more research.  Knowledge is helpful.  All the best.