Surgical team at Sutter’s CPMC performs single-port robotic extraperitoneal radical prostatectomy
A new surgical advancement is now available for one of the most common cancers among men.
Surgeons recently completed prostate cancer removal using a single incision at Sutter’s California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco.
Via a robotic surgical system using a single robotic arm, the procedure helps patients recover more quickly.
Dr. Eric Miller, a urologic oncologist and transplant surgeon, performed a single-port robotic extraperitoneal radical prostatectomy on Dec. 3 at Sutter CPMC’s Van Ness Campus using the da Vinci SP robotic system to remove a cancerous prostate.
About one in eight men in the U.S. will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime. When the disease is confined to the prostate, surgery is often recommended to prevent it from spreading.
Traditionally, prostate removal involves several incisions through the abdomen. It also requires patients to be tilted head down for an extended period of time. That positioning can strain the heart and lungs and may complicate anesthesia, particularly for older patients or those with underlying heart conditions. Recovery can also be slower and more uncomfortable.
Dr. Eric Miller
“This new technique changes the experience dramatically,” said Dr. Miller. “Patients remain flat, which improves heart and lung function, and makes anesthesia easier. From the operating room forward, the entire experience is designed to be less taxing on the body.”
Instead of several cuts, the single-port approach uses just one small opening. By staying outside the abdominal cavity, the space where the intestines and other organs sit, surgeons can significantly reduce the risk of bowel injury and complications. One example is postoperative ileus, a temporary slowing of the intestines that can delay recovery and increase post-operative discomfort.
“These innovations allow us to treat cancer with the most precise and smallest surgical footprint possible,” Miller said. “It is a gentler, minimally invasive approach, and patients cite feeling the difference almost immediately.”
Patients who undergo the procedure have reported less pain, fewer complications and, in many cases, the ability to return home the same day. As Dr. Miller and his team continue to gain experience, he says the technique could ultimately make prostate cancer surgery a true outpatient option.
Surgical teams at Sutter Roseville Medical Center, northeast of Sacramento, and Sutter’s Memorial Medical Center in Modesto are also performing single-port robotic prostatectomies.
Beyond the Prostate
CPMC is also using the da Vinci single-port robotic system for adrenal cancer surgery through a procedure called single-port lower abdominal anterior radical adrenalectomy. Similarly, this method allows patients to remain flat with arms out, rather than positioned on their side, which supports safer anesthesia delivery and improved blood flow.
The expanded use of single-port robotics reflects a broader effort at Sutter’s CPMC and across Sutter Health to advance surgical care while minimizing the physical burden on patients.
Cancer Care at Sutter Health
About 200,000 people are diagnosed with cancer in California each year. Together, more than 250 Sutter cancer specialists collaborate to treat more than 17,000 newly diagnosed patients at one of the 20+ cancer centers throughout the system. Learn more at sutterhealth.org/services/cancer.
Looking Ahead
These early milestones are laying the foundation for future innovations in care, including robotic transplant surgery, said Dr. Bob Osorio, a liver transplant surgeon and chair of Sutter’s Advanced Organ Therapies.
Dr. Bob Osorio
“We are laying important groundwork for what comes next in cancer surgery and transplant care right here at Sutter,” Dr. Osorio said. “We’re moving thoughtfully and responsibly, building the expertise and experience needed to expand these approaches safely.”
For Dr. Miller, the promise of single-port robotics goes beyond technical achievement.
“Single-port robotics allows us to perform highly technical procedures more safely and precisely, with faster recoveries and fewer complications,” he said. “But the real excitement is what this means for patients. They can get back to their lives sooner and approach treatment with greater confidence.”
