Da Vinci Robot

Prostate cancer kills more men every year than any other form of cancer. It will afflict one in eight men in their lifetimes, striking approximately 22,300 men this year alone.

For the most severe cases of prostate cancer, surgical removal of the prostate remains the only treatment option. The MUHC was the first institution in the province to develop a dedicated programme for minimally invasive prostatectomies: the removal of the prostate through a tiny keyhole incision with the use of laparoscopic surgical instruments. Although minimally invasive prostatectomy offers incalculable advantages over conventional prostatectomy, it remains a risky procedure. Because of the unique physiology and location of the prostate, erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence are statistically significant side effects of laparoscopic prostatectomy. Although the high level of training and extraordinary expertise of the MUHC’s MIS surgeons keeps these risks to a minimum, the surgery continues to be a frightening option for prostate cancer patients.

Fortunately, new hope is now on the horizon for prostate cancer patients facing radical prostatectomy. In 1991, the U.S. Food and Drug administration approved the da Vinci Surgical Robot: the next step in the evolution of MIS prostate surgery. With the da Vinci system, a surgeon controls the movements of multiple robotic arms while sophisticated imaging software allows her to view the procedure in three dimensions.

Use of the da Vinci robot in prostatectomies results in reduced blood loss and nerve sparing, both of which are key in the preservation of continence and erectile function.

The successful acquisition of such groundbreaking technology requires the generosity of donors who appreciate the MUHC’s vision for the future of cancer care and surgical advances, and who are committed to helping the MUHC and McGill take a bold step forward in improving the treatment of its patients. To help us acquire a da Vinci robot for the MUHC’s Cancer Care Mission, an $8 million undertaking, please contact the MUHC Foundation.