International Prostate Cancer Expert Dr. David B. Samadi Discusses Weill Cornell Study on the Value of Robotic Surgery Experience

NEW YORK, Feb. 17, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a new study, experience in robotic surgery is only obtained after the procedure has been performed more than 1,600 times. Researchers claimed this volume is what is required in order to successfully remove all prostate cancer cells surrounding the tumor. This comes as no surprise to Dr. David B. Samadi, a robotic prostatectomy and prostate cancer treatment expert, as well as Vice Chairman, Department of Urology, and Chief of Robotics and Minimally Invasive Surgery at The Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110217/NY50630 )

"When it comes to prostate cancer surgery, in order to get a better cure rate and reduce the incidence of complications, such as incontinence and impotence, practice makes perfect and experience is paramount," said Dr. Samadi, who has performed over 3,200 robotic surgery procedures in his practice. Samadi, who is also an oncologist, trained in open and laparoscopic surgery in addition to robotic surgery, feels that volume is what gives him a superior edge in robotic prostatectomy, reduced complications and subsequent cure rate. "After all, it's not the robot that does the surgery; it's the surgeon," he emphasizes.

Surgeons need the experience to ascertain with increased accuracy, of up to 90%, how much malignant tissue needs to be removed around the prostate gland. Any cells that remain could lead to recurrence of prostate cancer. Additionally, robotic surgery expertise allows the surgeon to spare the delicate nerves that are responsible for sexual and urinary function, which are the leading complications from prostate surgery.

What makes Dr. Samadi unique amongst robotic surgeons in New York City is his commitment to his patients.  The entire surgery, from the beginning to the end, is performed by Dr. Samadi himself.  His patients come to him from all over the world for his expertise and insistence on being the only surgeon to operate on them; holding sole responsibility for their post-operative quality of life.  According to Dr. Samadi, "Mount Sinai's Robotics and Minimally Invasive Surgery program that I'm director of is also one of the very few centers in the world to have never had a rectal perforation due to robotic prostate removal surgery. This further reinforces the personal level of quality and care that prostate cancer patients can rely on with me."

Robotic surgery requires smaller incisions, results in less blood loss and faster recovery, thus adding to its appeal. "However, this operation is not easy to perform well, and that only comes after doing it successfully over and over," said Dr. Samadi, who created his signature SMART (Samadi Modified Advanced Robotic Technique) Surgery Technique, based on his years of experience with robotics.  

The study, focused on the use of Intuitive Surgical Inc.'s da Vinci robot, demonstrated that robotic surgeries are being done at an increasing rate by inexperienced surgeons at community hospitals. The allure of this type of surgery is very high because it has been shown that it can be learned quickly. "Learned, but not mastered," says Samadi.

"The problem is that the machine is so expensive, that hospitals feel they need to use it substantially in order to recoup the operating and marketing costs," said Dr. Samadi. "And not every hospital should have the robot – it should just be allocated to centers of excellence." Samadi feels that by streamlining the amount of hospitals that purchase the robot, they can better manage the training and experience of the surgeons operating the robot to ensure expertise and volume."  Intuitive Surgical claims that every hospital has its own training system to train surgeons and it's not up to Intuitive to determine when doctors reach an adequate proficiency level.

"Experience is key," says Samadi. "So be sure to do your research and choose a high-volume, multi-disciplined surgeon who operates with a skilled team in a center of excellence, for success against prostate cancer."

SOURCE http://www.smart-surgery.com