Urology

In September 2002, Howard Winfield, MD, performed the first urologic robotic procedures in Iowa. During the last four years, robotic prostatectomy at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics has become a routine procedure for the treatment of prostate cancer.

To date, Winfield and Fadi Joudi, MD, have performed more than 125 prostatectomy procedures, far exceeding other medical centers in Iowa and surrounding states.

Preliminary data indicate comparable results to the traditional open surgical approach with respect to eradicating the prostate cancer. What has become evident is the blood loss associated with robotic prostatectomy is markedly reduced compared to open surgery.

Furthermore, urinary continence and return of erectile function appears to be at least as good as open surgery. This is now translating into a very attractive surgical approach for the treatment of prostate cancer. The demand for robotic prostatectomy at UI Hospitals and Clinics has significantly increased in the last four years.

Robotic pyeloplasty was first performed in Iowa by Winfield in 2002 and, to date, this procedure is now considered the gold standard at UI Hospital and Clinics for adult and adolescent ureteropelvic junction obstruction. J. Christopher Austin, MD, performs pediatric robotic pyeloplasty as well as other robotic procedures.

The success rate for robotic repair is greater than 92 percent, very comparable to the open surgical approach, but without the surgical disfigurement or prolonged postoperative convalescence. Other minimally invasive endoscopic approaches yield success rates of only 40 to 85 percent.

The UI Department of Urology, in conjunction with the American Urological Association, offered a national robotics training seminar in November 2005, attended by urologists from all over the world. In addition, Winfield has held one-week mini-fellowships in robotic and laparoscopic surgery since 2003. The urology department also offers a one-year fellowship in minimally invasive surgery, offering clinical and research post graduate training.

Surgeons using the da Vinci® Robotic Surgical System:

Howard Winfield, MD
Director, UI Hospitals and Clinics Robotic Surgery Program and
Head of Urologic Minimally Invasive Surgery and Endourology

• Prostatectomy
• Pyeloplasties

Bernard Fallon, MD

Fadi N. Joudi, MD

• Radical prostatectomies

J. Christopher Austin, MD

• Pediatric robotic surgery
• Pediatric pyeloplasties

News

• da Vinci Surgery System
• Surgical firsts

For more information, please contact:

Bernard Fallon, MD
bernard-fallon@uiowa.edu

Howard Winfield, MD
howard-winfield@uiowa.edu
319-356-2421

Fadi N. Joudi, MD
fadi-joudi@uiowa.edu
319-356-1974

J. Christopher Austin, MD
chris-austin@uiowa.edu
319-356-0743

UI Health Access (for patients)

UI Consult (for physicians)