Single port robotic surgery is one of the most significant advances in the surgical treatment of prostate cancer in recent years. Unlike conventional robotic surgery, which typically uses four or five small incisions, single port robotic surgery allows the entire operation to be carried out through one small entry point. For men diagnosed with prostate cancer who are suitable candidates, this approach can mean less scarring, less post-operative pain, and a quicker return to normal activities.

What Is Single Port Robotic Surgery?

Single port robotic surgery uses a specially designed robotic platform in which all of the surgical instruments and the camera pass through a single tube inserted through one small incision, usually around the navel or in the lower abdomen. Inside the body, the instruments then spread out to reach the prostate, allowing the surgeon to operate with the same precision and range of movement as multi-port robotic systems, but through a single access point.

This technique is most commonly used to perform a radical prostatectomy, the surgical removal of the entire prostate gland, for men with localised or locally advanced prostate cancer that has been discussed and agreed at a multidisciplinary team (MDT) meeting.

How Does Single Port Robotic Surgery Work?

Step 1: Pre-Operative Planning

Before single port robotic surgery, your surgeon will review your PSA level, Gleason score, and mpMRI findings to confirm that surgery is the right treatment option. Staging investigations help determine whether the cancer is confined to the prostate or has spread beyond it.

Step 2: The Single Port Procedure

During single port robotic surgery, the surgeon controls the robotic arms from a console, using a high-definition, three-dimensional view of the prostate and surrounding structures. Working through one incision, the surgeon removes the prostate gland while aiming to preserve the nerves responsible for erectile function and the muscles that control continence, wherever it is oncologically safe to do so.

Step 3: Recovery

Because single port robotic surgery involves only one incision, many men experience less pain in the days following surgery compared with multi-port approaches, and hospital stays are often short. A catheter is usually required for a period after surgery while the bladder and urethra heal.

Benefits of Single Port Robotic Surgery

Single port robotic surgery offers several potential advantages over traditional open or multi-port robotic surgery:

• A single, small, well-hidden incision rather than several separate cuts
• Reduced post-operative pain for many patients
• Shorter hospital stays in many cases
• A faster return to normal daily activities
• The same level of surgical precision as multi-port robotic systems

As with any surgical technique, individual outcomes vary, and single port robotic surgery is not suitable for every man or every stage of prostate cancer. A thorough assessment is essential before deciding on the best approach.

Is Single Port Robotic Surgery Right for You?

Suitability for single port robotic surgery depends on factors including the size and location of the tumour, your general health, and any previous abdominal surgery. Your consultant urologist will discuss whether single port robotic surgery, active surveillance, radiotherapy, or another treatment pathway best fits your diagnosis and personal priorities, including the importance you place on preserving continence and sexual function.

It is worth asking your surgeon how many single port robotic surgery procedures they have performed, what results you can expect based on your specific case, and what the recovery process will involve.

Book a Consultation for Single Port Robotic Surgery

If you have been diagnosed with prostate cancer and want to find out whether single port robotic surgery is a suitable option for you, get in touch to arrange a consultation. A detailed assessment of your diagnosis will help determine whether this minimally invasive approach is right for your circumstances.