Vattikuti Institute prostatectomy: a technique of robotic radical prostatectomy: experience in more than 1000 cases

Abstract

The Vattikuti Institute prostatectomy (VIP), a robotic radical prostatectomy approach, was conceived, designed, and refined with the goal of finding the most surgeon-friendly technique while minimizing patient morbidity and continuing to follow the standards of open radical prostatectomy. In this approach, the entire procedure is performed extraperitoneally after the ports have been placed transperitoneally and the bladder is dissected off the anterior abdominal wall. The evolution of the VIP is an amalgam of knowledge gained from the different procedures and recreated mixing in the technical nuances of robotic assistance. The procedure has been modified further from what we began with to obtain better outcomes. In our experience, robotic assistance, with its virtues of wristed movements, three-dimensional magnified vision, and filtered movements, allowed us to adjudicate a better operation with good oncologic and functional outcomes. It is also associated with decreased morbidity and earlier convalescence with excellent cosmesis. It is an ideal choice of the treatment at our center for localized cancer of prostate. Herein, the technique is described, detailing the different steps.