Villalba Hospital: robotic radical prostatectomies

The General University Hospital of Villalba -public hospital of the Community of Madrid- has consolidated its experience in the minimally invasive surgical management of this pathology, already approaching 100 robotic radical prostatectomies performed, according to the hospital center.

prostate cancer It is the most diagnosed tumor among men in Spain, with more than 32,000 new cases every year -23 percent of all male oncological diagnoses-, and its early detection is decisive for survival. When diagnosed in early stages, the five-year survival rate exceeds 99 percent, while in advanced stages it drops below 40 percent.

“Robotic surgery has transformed the way we treat prostate cancer. It allows us to perform more precise, less aggressive surgery and with better results in continence and sexual function,” says the doctor. José Emilio Hernández Sánchezhead of the Urology Service of the Villalba General University Hospital.

Robotic radical prostatectomy consists of the complete removal of the prostate gland and seminal vesicles using the Da Vinci robotic system, which translates the surgeon’s movements with a three-dimensional, high-definition vision. “We can work within a very small anatomical space with millimeter precision and without tremors, which allows us to preserve key structures such as the erector nerves and the urinary sphincter,” explains Dr. Hernández.

During the procedure, the surgeon controls the robotic arms from a console that amplifies the image of the surgical field and controls any involuntary tremor. In high-risk cases, pelvic lymphadenectomy is also performed for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes.

This technique significantly reduces bleeding, postoperative pain and hospital stay. Most patients remain hospitalized between 48 and 72 hours and return to their daily activities in less than two weeks, avoiding physical exertion during the first month. “Robotic surgery has allowed us to improve both surgical safety and patient well-being from day one,” adds the head of the Urology Service of General de Villalba.

Thanks to the anatomical precision of the robotic approach, the functional results are excellent. “About 95 percent of patients recover urinary continence in the first three months, and the vast majority maintain satisfactory sexual function when it is possible to preserve the neurovascular bundle,” highlights the specialist, pointing out that up to 80-90 percent of patients under 60 years of age with good previous erectile function recover functional erections in the first year thanks to the bilateral conservation of the neurovascular bundles.

Before each intervention, individualized planning is carried out with advanced imaging studies such as multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging, which allow the optimal surgical strategy to be defined according to the profile of each patient. And, Dr. Hernández recalls, “no two patients are the same; we study each case to “balance oncological radicality and functional preservation.”

After surgery, the hospital applies multimodal rehabilitation protocols that combine pelvic floor physiotherapy, early pharmacotherapy and progressive exercise programs. “Our goal is for the patient to regain their autonomy and quality of life as soon as possible,” he emphasizes.

CLINICAL RESULTS

The Urology Service of the General University Hospital of Villalba has developed a structured robotic surgery program with weekly surgical sessions, safety protocols and continuous training of the team, which guarantees the reproducibility and quality of the results. Specifically, the center currently completes one or two robotic surgery sessions a week, in which prostate, kidney, bladder and pelvic reconstruction interventions are performed. The accumulated experience has made it possible to achieve oncological results comparable to those of the main national centers: survival free of biochemical recurrence is between 84 and 95 percent over five years, and cancer-specific survival reaches figures of 96-99 percent.

“Robotic surgery allows us, in addition to addressing cancer, to preserve function and quality of life. Today success is measured in well-being as well as oncological control,” concludes Dr. Hernández. The villalbino hospital has also demonstrated efficient surgical organization, significantly reducing waiting times compared to the national average and offering patients comprehensive support from preoperative assessment to rehabilitation, with coordinated care circuits that ensure continuity and maximum quality.