Consultant Urological Surgeon · GMC 7030583
Robotic Prostatectomy with Mr Ashwin Sridhar
Robotic (keyhole) removal of the prostate for prostate cancer, in central London.
Key takeaways
- Robotic prostatectomy removes the prostate through small keyhole incisions using a surgeon-controlled robot.
- It is an option for men with localised prostate cancer who are suitable for surgery.
- Mr Sridhar has performed 2,000+ robotic procedures and is an Intuitive Surgical proctor.
- He offers the Retzius-sparing approach and NeuroSAFE nerve-sparing guidance.
- Consultations are available at Harley Street; bookings go through his practice.
- Robotic prostatectomy
- Robotic prostatectomy is removal of the prostate gland using a surgeon-controlled robotic system through small keyhole incisions.
The procedure, explained
If you or someone you love has just been diagnosed with prostate cancer, it is normal to feel overwhelmed or anxious. My job is to take away the guesswork and give you the clarity you need to make the right choice for your health.
I do not stand over you with a scalpel. I sit at a specialised console a few feet away, controlling tiny, precise instruments through keyhole incisions. The robot does not do the surgery. I do.
A robotic radical prostatectomy removes the prostate gland, and the cancer within it, using a surgeon-controlled robotic system. The console gives me a magnified, 3D view inside the pelvis and a level of steady precision the human hand alone cannot match. The operation usually takes two to three hours under general anaesthetic. Whether it is the right option for you, how it compares with open surgery, and what recovery involves are the first things we work through together.
What makes my approach distinctive
I do not believe in sugar-coating things. A cancer diagnosis calls for the truth, so I will always give you an honest, realistic assessment of your diagnosis and your options. That honesty comes with empathy. I take the time to explain the details of the biology and the technology in plain English until you feel secure, and you will never feel rushed out of my consultation room.
Because I have performed more than 2,000 robotic procedures, I am able to offer specialised, function-preserving techniques that are not widely available, including Retzius-sparing and nerve-sparing surgery. My focus is not only on removing the cancer, but on protecting your quality of life afterwards. I work alongside an experienced team of anaesthetists, nurses and administrators, and we are contactable around the clock so that you never feel alone in this.
Nerve-sparing, NeuroSAFE and Retzius-sparing
The nerves and the supporting structures that control erections and urinary continence sit very close to the prostate, and several of the techniques I use are designed to work around them as carefully as possible. Nerve-sparing surgery means working meticulously around those delicate nerves rather than through them. NeuroSAFE is intra-operative guidance that checks the tissue while the operation is underway, which helps me judge how much can safely be preserved. The Retzius-sparing approach reaches the prostate from a different angle, without disturbing the space in front of it (the space of Retzius), which helps protect the structures that support the bladder.
None of these techniques is a guarantee. What they share is a single aim: to remove the cancer while protecting as much normal function as possible and reducing the possible side-effects where it is safe to do so. Which of them is right for you depends on your anatomy and the position of the cancer, and I will talk it through with you honestly before surgery.
“A really excellent doctor, clear and empathetic at the initial pre-surgery consultation, reassuring just prior to surgery, great bedside manner in the immediate recovery period, and then it was good to see him for the histology results a week or so later.”
“He explained the procedure and its complications clearly. A very pleasant and soft-spoken, confidence-inspiring surgeon.”
“Mr Sridhar was gentle, warm and attentive when I needed it during my initial cancer surgery consultation. He explained everything to my wife and I so clearly that everything made sense in spite of my anxiety. I feel that I'm in a safe pair of hands.”
Explore your care
You are not just a case on a surgical list. You are a person navigating a difficult chapter, and we are committed to walking through it with you: precisely, honestly, and safely.
Book your assessment
Same-week consultations available with Mr Ashwin Sridhar.