The bladder is a hallow organ that stores urine. It is located inside the lower abdomen, is about the size of a grapefruit and is distensible (elastic) which allows its muscular wall to get larger and smaller. Bladder cancer is a disease in which cancer cells form in the tissues of the bladder. Over 67,000 new cases of bladder cancer are diagnosed in the United States each year.1 It is the fourth most common cancer among men and ninth most common among women in the U.S. Fortunately, most people with bladder cancer will not die of the disease but it does claim about 13,000 lives each year. 2

Treatment Options

Treatment options depend on the stage of bladder cancer (Stage 0 to Stage 4). 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 chances of a cure. Surgery is the primary bladder cancer treatment and is performed in over 90% of bladder cancers (either alone are in combination with another therapy). 3 When cancer has spread to the muscle wall of the bladder, a radical cystectomy is the preferred treatment choice. 4

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 or path for urine to be stored and to leave the body. 5

Cystectomy is traditionally performed using an open approach, meaning the surgeon must make a large abdominal incision to access the bladder. Another approach, conventional laparoscopy, is less invasive but limits the doctor’s dexterity, field of vision and control, compared to open surgery.

da Vinci ® Cystectomy

If your doctor recommends surgery for bladder cancer, you may be a candidate for a new, minimally invasive approach – da Vinci Cystectomy.

da Vinci uses state-of-the-art technology to help your doctor perform a more precise operation than conventional surgery allows. It offers several potential benefits over traditional open surgery, including:

  • Significantly less pain
  • Less blood loss
  • Fewer blood transfusions
  • Less risk of infection
  • Less scarring
  • Shorter hospital stay
  • Shorter recovery time
  • Better clinical outcomes, in many cases

The precision and dexterity of the da Vinci Surgical System’s advanced instrumentation allows for a minimally invasive approach to treating bladder cancer.

As with any surgery, these benefits cannot be guaranteed, as surgery is unique to each patient and specific condition. The da Vinci Surgical System is considered safe and effective, but may not be appropriate for everyone. Always ask your doctor about all treatment options, as well as the benefits and risks.

If you are a candidate for a cystectomy talk to a urologist who performs da Vinci Surgery for bladder cancer.

While clinical studies support the effectiveness of the da Vinci® System when used in minimally invasive surgery, individual results may vary. Surgery with the da Vinci Surgical System may not be appropriate for every individual. Always ask your doctor about all treatment options, as well as their risks and benefits.

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