Care of the patient undergoing robotic-assisted prostatectomy.

Prostate cancer has many treatment options. In addition to open retropubic and perineal approaches to radical prostatectomy, laparoscopic robotic prostatectomy is available as a newer surgical option. Potential advantages of robotic surgery include reduced pain and trauma, less blood loss, reduced infection risk, shorter hospital stay, faster recovery, and less scarring (Intuitive Surgical, 2005). A variety of nursing care considerations involving pre-operative education and preparation, intra-operative and immediate postoperative care issues, and long-term followup must be understood to meet the needs of a robotic surgical patient. Patient selection is very important to optimize a positive surgical outcome. Just as certain criteria make a good surgical candidate, there are factors that could complicate the surgery or adversely affect recovery.