Celebrating Ten Years of Robotic Surgery

When I first sat down at a robotic surgery control console, little did I know how much this endeavor would impact my daily routine. I recall saying to my surgical team that I never would have imagined operating on a patient with such a device. Now, ten years later, I cannot imagine life without this technology.

So what was life like back then? The infancy of robotic technology was fraught with unknowns and detractors. Fortunately, extensive prior laparoscopic experience (a rarity for a urologist back then) and the possibility of better clinical outcomes were the driving forces that led us to where we are today. As difficult as those early years were, I would not trade that experience for anything.

I recently spoke to our first robotic prostate removal patient. Over the last ten years, he has enjoyed an undetectable PSA blood test, indicating total eradication of his prostate cancer. Furthermore, he has normal urinary and sexual function.

I am proud of the outcome resulting from the first robotic prostate removal performed in Georgia. As robotic technology continues to advance, I strive to make each procedure better than the last. Experience is a journey – not an ownership.

— Dr. Scott Miller

 

Dr. Scott Miller has been a regular guest and host of our program since its inception. Dr. Miller helps The Weekly Check-Up with Dr. Bruce Feinberg bring together guests from various healthcare fields, interviews with health and fitness experts, and provide tips to help listeners lead better, healthier lives. Scott D. Miller, MD practices at Georgia Urology, the largest urology practice in Atlanta and the Southeast. He is widely recognized as a pioneer in the field of laparoscopic and robotic surgery techniques.