If you'd been in on a recent conversation with Bolivia resident and sixty-three-year-old prostate cancer patient Rolf Redin, it's this exchange that might have startled most:

'Did the cancer spread outside the prostate?'

'No, it didn't, but it was very close - within one or two millimeters from what I understand. They got it just in time.'

Fortunately for Redin, who seven weeks ago had his cancerous prostate surgically removed at New Hanover Regional Medical Center, there was da Vinci, a robotic surgical system allowing surgeons greater visibility and precision when performing complex minimally invasive procedures, thus enhancing patient recovery and outcome.

Named for painter and first-robot-inventor Leonardo da Vinci, the da Vinci surgical system is currently in use at leading hospitals nationwide for a variety of surgical procedures, including those for prostate, kidney and bladder cancer. In addition to prostate surgery, specialists at NHRMC will be using the robot for gynecological surgery. Gynecological surgeons have been trained and are currently consulting patients on their options.

The system consists of a surgeon's console, a patientside cart with four interactive robotic arms, a three dimensional vision system and various microsurgical instruments.

Greater Visibility and Precision

'You're seeing the same thing as in traditional open surgery, only you're seeing it 10 times better,' said Christian deBeck, MD, a Wilmington urologist instrumental in bringing the da Vinci S surgical system to NHRMC. 'Because da Vinci can zoom in on the operative area at 10 times magnification, you get greater visibility, all of which leads to greater surgical precision.'

And it's visibility and precision that matters most when surgically treating cancer patients like Redin, said Dr. deBeck.

'Prostate cancer surgery is first and foremost about cancer control. You want to ensure all the cancer is removed, so none is left behind,' said Dr. deBeck, who performed Redin's prostate removal, or prostatectomy.

'The da Vinci, with its advanced vision system and 360-degree rotating instruments, makes malignant tissue removal more precise and more efficient than ever before.'

'Blood loss during robotic surgery is minimized,' said Dr. deBeck. 'And most robotic surgery patients are able to go home the next day and resume normal activities in a short time frame,' said Dr. deBeck.

'The idea that you can have a complex minimally invasive procedure one day, go home the next and within a few weeks get back to doing what you love is very appealing,' said Dr. deBeck.

Like laparoscopy, robotic surgery depends on small incisions, or portals, to access the surgical site.

'But with robotics, there's three-dimensional depth perception, better instruments with increased range of motion, and greater surgical freedom in the operative field.'

The Robot and Mr. Redin

'Upon first learning of robotic surgery it seemed a little like science fiction, but today I would recommend it to anyone,' said Redin, one of NHRMC's first robotic surgery patients.

Having learned his prostate cancer diagnosis shortly after relocating to southeastern North Carolina from Connecticut, Redin said his first thought was where to get the best treatment.

'I thought I was going to have to go to Chapel Hill, or even back up North,' he said. 'That's when I met Dr. deBeck and decided on robotic surgery right here at New Hanover Regional Medical Center.'

Redin said his robotic surgery went smoothly and that his hospital stay was uneventful. He said he returned home the next day with relatively little pain.

'Let's put it this way: The shoulder surgery I had last year on my rotator cuff was more painful and stressful than the robotic surgery to remove my prostate,' he said.

As for his recovery, Redin said he was up and walking the next day and back driving soon after that.

And, most of all, Redin is excited about returning to his favorite outdoor pastime. 'I'll be back golfing in just a couple weeks,' he said.