AllMed Healthcare: Da Vinci Robot: Best Choice For Prostate Surgery?
June 30, 2006 — AllMed Healthcare Management Medical Specialist Michael Kaempf has recently authored a feature article “Da Vinci Robot: Best Choice For Prostate Surgery?” that is featured on the AllMed Healthcare website. The article may be viewed by clicking the following link: http://www.allmedmd.com/resources/articles/prostate.html
Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most common non-skin cancer in men - about 30 percent of all cancers are prostate and 15 percent of men are likely to get it. Traditionally, surgery has been done “open” (retropubic or perineal), but by 2005, about 20 percent of radical prostatectomies were performed with the da Vinci™ surgical system from Intuitive Surgical. Robotic prostate surgery has some advantages for the patient. During surgery, patients tend to lose less blood, require fewer transfusions and have shorter catheterization times. Patients also suffer less post-op pain because of a shorter incision and shorter hospital stays.
Still, controversy exists about the advantages, disadvantages and cost-effectiveness of the robot. Both approaches provide similar overall health and quality of life outcomes and both are also similar in cost.
More information on AllMed and the company’s peer review & medical review services can be found on AllMed’s web site at http://www.allmedmd.com/ .
About AllMed Healthcare Management
Founded in 1995, AllMed (http://www.allmedmd.com/) is a URAC-accredited Independent Review Organization (IRO) serving insurance payers, providers, TPAs and claims managers nationwide. Reviews are conducted by board-certified physicians in active practice. AllMed’s growing customer base includes premier organizations, such as Educator’s Mutual Life, IMS Managed Care, Tenet Healthcare Corporation, HealthGuard, several Blue Cross Blue Shield organizations, TriWest Healthcare Alliance, Allianz and many other leading healthcare payers.