Book review

Citation

(2008), "Book review", Industrial Robot, Vol. 35 No. 4. https://doi.org/10.1108/ir.2008.04935dae.001

Book review

Article Type: Book review From: Industrial Robot: An International Journal, Volume 35, Issue 4

Urologic Robotic Surgery (Current Clinical Urology),Edited by Jeffrey A. Stock, Michael P. Esposito and Vincent Lanteri,Humana Press,1 March 2008,$169.00,240 pp.,ISBN: 978-1-58829-615-3,Web site: www.springer.com/humana + press/book/978-1-58829-615-3,

The robotic revolution continues to evolve driven mainly by the enthusiasm of urological surgeons to embrace new technology for the benefit of their patients. In 2007-2008, it is estimated that over 60 per cent of radical prostatectomies in the USA will be performed by robotic assistance. A similar shift is being noticed in other European countries. This did not occur after the introduction of laparoscopic radical prostatectomy possibly because open surgeons found it difficult to learn. Even more interesting is the fact that laparoscopic surgeons are translating to robotics and the next few years will tell whether their results are improving even further. The benefits of robotic surgery have now made it a patient-driven field while we await the results of better comparative studies. Despite this, skepticism continues, mainly about industry led marketing and the health economics of robotics. This book is a timely overview of an exciting and evolving sub-specialty within urology.

The book has 238 pages and is arranged in 16 chapters with an accompanying DVD. It is easy to read and the chapters are arranged so as to grab the readers’ attention instantly. Each of them reflects expert opinions of authors from the USA. While the focus is on robotic radical prostatectomy, both trans and extraperitoneal, other aspects of robotic urology are given equal attention. The text begins with a historical perspective and moves on to operating room setup and port placement which a novice team will find very useful. The next few chapters are dedicated to individual procedures which cover adult as well as paediatric robotic urology. I particularly enjoyed the section on complications, policy guidelines and anesthetic considerations. The latter is particularly important because of the technical nuances of anesthesia in steep head down positions in the presence of pneumoperitoneum.

The book is nicely illustrated with colour plates although some of the black and white figures are occasionally darker and could be improved. They take a surgeon step by step through the procedures of interest. The references in a few chapters such as robotic radical cystectomy could do with some updating as a number of new articles have appeared in the literature over the last couple of years.

Urologic Robotic Surgery has already found a place in our departmental library. Urologists at all stages of their career will find it easy to read. In addition, theatre nurses, medical students, trainees and even interested patients would find it informative.

Prokar DasguptaDepartment of UrologyGuy’s and St Thomas’ Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust