St. Luke\u2019s University Health Network urologists are using robot-assisted technology to surgically remove bladder cancer with promising results. Called partial (or radical) cystectomy, this treatment method is better for patients, as it reduces blood loss, improves patient comfort and promotes faster recovery and discharge from the hospital.<\/p>\n
During this procedure, the surgeon makes small incisions in the patient\u2019s abdomen, then inserts a miniature 3D camera, cutting devices and grasping tools.<\/p>\n
St. Luke\u2019s urologist Abhay Singh, MD, calls the benefits of robotic surgery for bladder cancer \u201csignificant,\u201d adding, \u201cthis is evolving to become the standard of care preferred by patients and urologists.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCancerous bladder removal, and subsequent reconstruction, is complex and effective, but the da Vinci XI robot at St. Luke\u2019s enhances surgical precision and patient convenience and produces outcomes that aren\u2019t always achievable with \u2018open\u2019 operations.\u201d<\/p>\n
About 80,000 persons in United States are diagnosed yearly with bladder cancer, a disease closely linked to tobacco smoking and exposure to certain chemicals. The most common symptom of bladder cancer is blood in the urine. With age comes the increased of bladder cancer, especially in persons ages 60-80 years.<\/p>\n
There are generally two kinds of bladder cancer.\u00a0 Less invasive cancers are usually not life threatening, while cancers that invade the muscle can be a threat.\u00a0Most bladder cancers do not infiltrate the organ\u2019s\u00a0muscle layer. Treatment for more aggressive cancers usually\u00a0involves surgical removal of the bladder along with chemotherapy.\u00a0\u00a0Some patients opt for radiation and chemotherapy instead.<\/p>\n
The surgery might include\u00a0removal of the bladder, prostate (in men) and lymph nodes in the pelvis.\u00a0Construction of a replacement bladder, or passage for urine out of the body to a urine-collection bag, then is performed during the same surgery using a section of the patient\u2019s intestine, explained Dr. Singh.<\/p>\n
He estimates that he will choose robot-assisted technology to treat approximately a dozen bladder cancer patients this year, a volume that will increase annually. Patients who are obese, or have significant scar tissue growth in the abdomen from a prior surgery, may not qualify for this kind of small-incision surgery.<\/p>\n
\u201cPatients respond well to this new treatment option \u2026 and most can return to their daily activities with no limitations,\u201d added Dr. Singh.<\/p>\n
Photo caption:\u00a0 Abhay Singh, MD, St. Luke\u2019s urologist, says robotic surgery for bladder cancer enhances surgical precision and patient convenience.<\/p>\n
About St. Luke\u2019s<\/strong><\/p>\n Founded in 1872,\u00a0St. Luke\u2019s University Health Network<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0(SLUHN) is a fully integrated, regional, non-profit network of more than 20,000 employees providing services at 15 campuses and 350+ outpatient sites.\u00a0 With annual net revenue of $3.4 billion, the Network\u2019s service area includes 11 counties in two states: Lehigh, Northampton, Berks, Bucks, Carbon, Montgomery, Monroe, Schuylkill and Luzerne counties in Pennsylvania and Warren and Hunterdon counties in New Jersey. St. Luke\u2019s hospitals operate the largest network of trauma centers in Pennsylvania, with the Bethlehem Campus being home to St. Luke\u2019s Children\u2019s Hospital.<\/p>\n Dedicated to advancing medical education, St. Luke\u2019s is the preeminent teaching hospital in central-eastern Pennsylvania.\u00a0 In partnership with Temple University, the Network established the Lehigh Valley\u2019s first and only four-year medical school campus.\u00a0 It also operates the nation\u2019s oldest School of Nursing, established in 1884, and 52 fully accredited graduate medical educational programs with more than 500 residents and fellows. In 2022, St. Luke\u2019s, a member of the Children\u2019s Hospital Association, opened the Lehigh Valley\u2019s first and only free-standing facility dedicated entirely to kids.<\/p>\n SLUHN is the only Lehigh Valley-based health care system to earn Medicare\u2019s\u00a0five-star<\/em>\u00a0ratings (the highest) for quality, efficiency and patient satisfaction.\u00a0 It is both a Leapfrog Group and Healthgrades\u00a0Top Hospital<\/em>\u00a0and a Newsweek World\u2019s\u00a0Best Hospital<\/em>.\u00a0 The Network\u2019s flagship University Hospital has earned the\u00a0100 Top Major Teaching Hospital<\/em>\u00a0designation from Fortune\/PINC AI 10 years in a row, including in 2023 when it was identified as THE #4 TEACHING HOSPITAL IN THE COUNTRY.\u00a0 In 2021, St. Luke\u2019s was identified as one of the\u00a015 Top Health Systems<\/em>\u00a0nationally.\u00a0 Utilizing the Epic electronic medical record (EMR) system for both inpatient and outpatient services, the Network is a multi-year recipient of the\u00a0Most Wired<\/em>\u00a0award recognizing the breadth of the SLUHN\u2019s information technology applications such as telehealth, online scheduling and online pricing information. \u00a0The Network is also recognized as one of the state\u2019s lowest-cost providers.<\/p>\n Information provided to TVL by: <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" St. Luke\u2019s University Health Network urologists are using robot-assisted technology to surgically remove bladder cancer with promising results. Called partial (or radical) cystectomy, this treatment method is better for patients, … Continue reading St. Luke\u2019s Urologists Treat Bladder Cancer Using Surgical Robot<\/span>
\nSam Kennedy
\nhttps:\/\/www.slhn.org\/<\/a><\/p>\n
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