Treatment options for bladder cancer are dependent on the depth of tumor penetration into the bladder wall. For deep (invasive) disease, the standard treatment is radical cystectomy or removal of the entire bladder. Cystectomy is traditionally performed using an open approach, which requires a large abdominal incision. In many patients, this is the preferred approach due to volume of disease, previous surgical history or type of urinary diversion desired.

Some patients are candidates to a laparoscopic approach, avoiding the large incision and prolonged recovery. However, only the ileal loop diversion method for urinary drainage can be performed with the minimally invasive approach.

If your doctor recommends surgery for bladder cancer, you may be a candidate for a new, minimally invasive approach - da Vinci cystectomy. da Vinci surgery uses state-of-the-art technology to help our surgeon perform a more precise operation than conventional instrumentation allows.

Potential benefits include:

• Significantly less pain
• Shorter hospital stay
• Shorter recovery time
• Less blood loss
• Less occurrence of major complications
• Less risk of infection
• Less scarring
• Quicker recovery of bowel function

A da Vinci cystectomy incorporates the best techniques of open surgery and applies them to a robotic-assisted, minimally invasive approach. The precision and dexterity afforded by the da Vinci Surgical System's advanced instrumentation facilitates a minimally invasive approach for treating bladder cancer.

Our da Vinci specialists
Kurt Strom, MD 
Naveen Pokala, MD

Am I a candidate for da Vinci surgery?
If you are a candidate for bladder surgery, ask your doctor about the da Vinci Surgical System. For a consultation with a University of Missouri Health Care da Vinci Surgery specialist, call (573) 882-8445.