Single port vs. Multi-port DaVinci Robot for RARP

Thanks, this is very helpful. My husband has interviewed an impressive surgeon who has done 4500 RALP procedures but his center uses multi-port. One friend said this could be a minus, but didn't seem like a dealbreaker to us.

Thanks, this is very helpful. My husband has interviewed an impressive surgeon who has done 4500 RALP procedures but his center uses multi-port. One friend said this could be a minus, but didn't seem like a dealbreaker to us.

Distinction w/o a difference.
Listen to the retired surgeon, not "a friend".
4500 RPs is a lifetime of experience.

I would definitely recommend going with the proven method over the "latest and greatest". You want a surgeon that has done radical prostatectomies thousands of times, using a well tested and proven procedure. It is not the incisions that you need to worry about during recovery, but rather the internals.

Good luck

Here's a review article from April 2023 comparing multi to single-port RALP:

Here is the one-sentence conclusion: "Long-term, high-quality data are missing and further validation with prospective studies across different sites is required."

I'd go with a guy who's done 4500 multi-port cases...the difference (and it is not very significant) seems to be post-op pain and days in hospital. For otherwise healthy men who have had multi-port, the large majority seem to say minimal to no post-op pain, and one day in hospital (discharged the evening of or the day after procedure.)

Great news! I'm scheduled there for next month. I assume it's multi-port but not sure. What Dr. performed your surgery? Thanks

Dr. Raymond Pak. No problems. Chose to stay two nights in on-campus care hotel (due to distance from home to Mayo) for just a little extra rest and peace of mind before hitting the road. I’m now 16 days post-op and getting around normally with no tenderness whatsoever. Don’t like wearing diapers but realize continence will take some time. Peace of mind about having cancer removed is worth some temporary inconvenience. Prayers for your procedure and recovery.

Just because something is new doesn't mean it's better. A surgeon with 50+ multi-port cases/ year for more than 5 years is probably a very good bet. Sometimes equipment manufacturers are bringing out new stuff to make a buck, and some doctors like to play around with new toys. Best not to be an early adopter.

I had multi-port RALP 3+ months ago with no pain after leaving the recovery room, no narcotics @ home, walking the afternoon of surgery. I don't know anything about single port, but have trouble (as a retired surgeon who did laparoscopies for 40 years) envisioning why it would be "better" than multi-port.