Célébration du 25e anniversaire de la première prostatectomie robotique aux Etats-Unis. Une véritable collaboration entre les États-Unis, la France et l'Inde
Seance of wednesday 19 november 2025 (Communications libres)
DOI number : 10.26299/q9g4-f208/emem.2025.47.05
Abstract
This Presentation commemorates the 25th anniversary of robotic prostatectomy in the United States, detailing the pioneering work that began in Detroit in 2000.
Dr. Mani Menon, a urologist at Henry Ford Hospital with extensive experience in open prostatectomies, observed that African American men in Detroit, despite having higher prostate cancer rates, preferred radiation over open surgery, which yielded poorer outcomes. Recognizing a cultural resistance to invasive procedures, Menon sought less invasive alternatives.
The Vattikuti Foundation, established by Raj and Padma Vattikuti, provided $20 million in unrestricted funding to create the Vattikuti Urology Institute. Despite Intuitive Surgical's focus on cardiac applications, Menon purchased a da Vinci robotic system for urological use. His team collaborated with French laparoscopic experts from the Montsouris Institute, conducting parallel robotic and laparoscopic procedures over twelve months while meticulously recording and analyzing results. Surprisingly, over 70% of patients chose the robotic approach, possibly due to Detroit's automotive culture familiarizing residents with robotic precision.
After one year, 50 robotic cases demonstrated outcomes comparable to best-in-class laparoscopic procedures, with significant advantages over open surgery including reduced blood loss, fewer complications, shorter hospital stays, and better quality-of-life outcomes. The rigorous scientific methodology and published results, though initially met with skepticism, proved replicable and transformed the field. Intuitive Surgical pivoted from cardiac to urological applications, recognizing the procedure's potential. By 2004, robotic prostatectomy represented 10% of the U.S. market, eventually becoming the standard of care.
The success hinged on addressing genuine clinical needs, maintaining scientific rigor, entrepreneurial vision, institutional support, corporate adaptability, and systematic knowledge dissemination. This convergence of visionary clinicians, philanthropic support, innovative technology, and a receptive patient population in Detroit created a transformative moment in surgical history. Long-term studies, including 15-year survival data published in 2023, have validated the approach's durability and clinical value. The story offers enduring lessons for medical innovation: solve real problems, embrace rigorous validation, accept calculated risks, ensure institutional backing, remain adaptable, prioritize reproducibility, and share knowledge broadly.
Dr. Mani Menon, a urologist at Henry Ford Hospital with extensive experience in open prostatectomies, observed that African American men in Detroit, despite having higher prostate cancer rates, preferred radiation over open surgery, which yielded poorer outcomes. Recognizing a cultural resistance to invasive procedures, Menon sought less invasive alternatives.
The Vattikuti Foundation, established by Raj and Padma Vattikuti, provided $20 million in unrestricted funding to create the Vattikuti Urology Institute. Despite Intuitive Surgical's focus on cardiac applications, Menon purchased a da Vinci robotic system for urological use. His team collaborated with French laparoscopic experts from the Montsouris Institute, conducting parallel robotic and laparoscopic procedures over twelve months while meticulously recording and analyzing results. Surprisingly, over 70% of patients chose the robotic approach, possibly due to Detroit's automotive culture familiarizing residents with robotic precision.
After one year, 50 robotic cases demonstrated outcomes comparable to best-in-class laparoscopic procedures, with significant advantages over open surgery including reduced blood loss, fewer complications, shorter hospital stays, and better quality-of-life outcomes. The rigorous scientific methodology and published results, though initially met with skepticism, proved replicable and transformed the field. Intuitive Surgical pivoted from cardiac to urological applications, recognizing the procedure's potential. By 2004, robotic prostatectomy represented 10% of the U.S. market, eventually becoming the standard of care.
The success hinged on addressing genuine clinical needs, maintaining scientific rigor, entrepreneurial vision, institutional support, corporate adaptability, and systematic knowledge dissemination. This convergence of visionary clinicians, philanthropic support, innovative technology, and a receptive patient population in Detroit created a transformative moment in surgical history. Long-term studies, including 15-year survival data published in 2023, have validated the approach's durability and clinical value. The story offers enduring lessons for medical innovation: solve real problems, embrace rigorous validation, accept calculated risks, ensure institutional backing, remain adaptable, prioritize reproducibility, and share knowledge broadly.