Interview with recipient of laporoscopic surgery with the da Vinci Surgical System
What operation did you undergo with the da Vinci?
It was laparoscopic radical prostatectomy.
Why did you need to undergo the surgery?
I was diagnosed with prostate cancer.
Why did you choose the da Vinci? Did you have a choice before hand?
Yes, I had a choice. I chose da Vinci for two big reasons. First, I have heart disease. I have a weak heart and my cardiologist pointed out that minimal invasive procedure results in less blood loss than conventional radical prostatectomy. This will be an operation with no transfusion, small blood loss, and no big change in blood pressure during the operation. This was my main reason to do a minimally invasive operation with little blood loss. The second one was a “social reason”. I am a single parent with children. I need to care for my young children. And I want a fast recovery. A recovery so fast that even in the early stages of the recovery I can still care for my children such as driving to where they need to go and caring for them in the home. I achieved that with the da Vinci.
How long were you in the hospital after the surgery?
One week.
How long was your total recovery time after the surgery?
Well, the doctor wants me to have the catheter in for a few extra days because of some reason. Now, however, even with the catheter I was active. I was driving. I was putting things around the house and I was going outside. So, except for the first few days of the recovery, starting at around day 3, I was pretty active.
How often are the check ups after the surgery?
Well, so far I only have one check up. That was the day I went back to have the catheter removed. I am going to my second check up early next week, which would be after six weeks since I had the surgery.
Can you remember how long the operation was?
I understand that it lasted for a little bit less than four hours.
Do you have any idea how much the operation costs?
Not yet.
Does insurance cover it?
My insurance is supposed to cover it. Yes.
Was the scarring bad after the robotic surgery?
Oh, I don’t have any scars at all.
Is there any accompanying treatment/therapy for the surgery?
Yes. A specialized nurse helps you to strengthen your rectal muscles using some kind of exercise as well as a specialized computer screen that measures and shows how well you can control your rectal muscles.
Is the recovery time after the surgery really fast? Were there any specific things you have to do?
The only thing there is left to do was to remove the catheter.
And was there any pain?
Yes there was some pain. Mostly around the catheter. I think the catheter causes some abdominal pain. And the pain was gone in 2 days.
Do you have any big concerns or challenges that you face after the surgery?
Yes. There are some challenges that are normal for all prostate-removal patients. I have to live with the catheter for six weeks, still have it, and there is concerns about incontinence. So I don’t think those two concerns are specific to the da Vinci.
And beside the pain, were there any side effects?
There was the difficulty caused by a catheter and a bag. I have to get used to it. I don’t think there is anything else.
Does the surgery have a huge impact on your life? Can you keep doing the things you do before the surgery?
Well, certainly within the first few days I cannot do a few things I want to do. But you’ll have to accept it if you are to have surgery.
At the very beginning, how did you find out above the da Vinci system?
There was quite a bit of literature available. Robotic surgery especially the da Vinci machine seems to get a lot of the press these days. It was even on the television.
Do you have any concerns about the surgery before you do it?
It’s not a major surgery. I didn’t think there’s any more concerns than if I would have been if I am to take the conventional surgery.
Do you have any complaints for the robotic procedure?
I think it’s till kind of early and I don’t know yet. I’ll have to know whether I am completely rid of cancer cells and I don’t have the information yet. Let me just say I don’t have any complaints at the moment.
Are you satisfied with the result so far?
Yes. So far I am satisfied with the result.
If you have the chance to choose between robotic surgery and conventional surgery, will you choose robotic surgery again?
Yes sure. I think so. I understand that there are several important new advances coming into conventional surgery. Surgeons now do things differently with cameras also. I do understand that the conventional surgery is picking up more and more the characteristics of the robotic surgery. Shorter and less invasive. Taking the catheter out quicker. That is an important thing too. With robotic surgery, the catheter can come out in 1 week. And talking with other urologists, in conventional surgery, they figured out ways to have the catheter comes out in 1 week. The same as a surgery using the da Vinci. However my doctor came up with some situations where the catheter might come out in 2 or 3 or 4 days. Which I assume is possible too.
Did your doctor explain to you the risks of the procedure?
Yes. I think he explained more in terms of general urology prostatectomy rather than specifically about the da Vinci method.
Is your doctor the only robotic surgeon you talked to?
Yes.
If you are given the opportunity to live a high-quality normal life, how many years of your life are you willing to trade for it?
My normal life span might have been 80. Have it been a high quality life, I’ll give up another 5 years. I’ll live till 75.
If a new surgery is offered with no risk at all, but your insurance is not willing to pay for it. Will you pay for it?
If it is the best treatment for cancer and my insurance will not pay for it, I’ll pay for it myself.
Thank you.