For qualified candidates, robotically assisted prostate surgery offers numerous potential benefits over the traditional open prostatectomy, including shorter hospital stay, less pain, less risk of infection, less blood loss and transfusions, less scarring, faster recovery, and quicker return to normal activities.

The da Vinci® Surgical System S (the newest model robot) is powered by state-of-the-art technology. The System allows your surgeon's hand movements to be scaled, filtered and translated into precise movements of micro-instruments within the operative site. The magnified, three-dimensional view the surgeon experiences enables him to perform precise surgery in complex procedures through small surgical incisions.

Right now, in San Antonio, robotic technology is only available at St. Luke's Baptist Hospital. The surgery is performed by a small number of specially trained surgeons, including Urology San Antonio's Dr. Naveen Kella, who was the first urologist in San Antonio to perform a robotic radical prostatectomy.

Since joining Urology San Antonio in 2004, Dr. Kella has performed more than 1,000 robotic prostatectomies and is the only urologist in the region to be fellowship-trained in minimally invasive robotic procedures and prostate cancer. Each month, Dr. Kella completes 25 or more robotic procedures and is one of the nation's most experienced robotic surgeons. He routinely travels across the country to instruct other urologists in robotic techniques. In 2005, he co-authored the book chapter "Robotic Radical Prostatectomy" in the medical reference Atlas of the Prostate. Patients from outside of Texas and even outside of the United States have traveled to San Antonio seeking Dr. Kella's expertise in performing this procedure.

Learn more about robotic prostate surgery by reviewing the Frequently Asked Questions or e-mailing Dr. Naveen Kella.

Reviewed by Naveen Kella, M.D. on Monday, July 28, 2008