Abstract. The Intuitive da Vinci system enables surgeons to see and manipulate structures deep within the body via tiny incisions. Though the robotic tools mimic one's hand motions, surgeons cannot feel what the tools are touching, a striking contrast to non-robotic techniques. We have developed a new method for partially restoring this lost sense of touch. Our VerroTouch system measures the vibrations caused by tool contact and immediately recreates them on the master handles for the surgeon to feel. This augmentation enables the surgeon to feel the texture of rough surfaces, the start and end of contact with manipulated objects, and other important tactile events. While it does not provide low frequency forces, we believe vibrotactile feedback will be highly useful for surgical task execution, a hypothesis we we will test in future work.

The major associated risk for SUI, a complication presumably related to surgical technique, was prolonged duration between cases. During the learning curve, surgeons should schedule patients frequently to enhance learning and decrease time to mastery of the technique, thereby reducing SUI.

Our review of the records at 6 centers revealed a combined 0.17% incidence of rectal injury. This compares favorably to the incidence in modern open and laparoscopic radical prostatectomy series. No preoperative, intraoperative or pathological differences correlated with injury. Cases in which rectal injury was identified intraoperatively required fewer surgical repeat interventions but ultimately each group had acceptable long-term urinary and bowel function results.

The bladder plication stitch is a simple and effective technical modification for shortening the period of recovery of urinary continence in RARP patients. Randomized controlled trials are under way to further evaluate this technique.

Extraadrenal pheochromocytomas are rare and can present in difficult locations. In this case, the da Vinci robot was used for the safe management of this perihilar mass.