Patient Benefits

Urinary incontinence is a common side effect following prostate cancer surgery and nerve injury occurring during the surgery has been identified as one of the primary causes. 2  Research shows that that up to 50% of all patients undergoing robotic-assisted prostatectomy surgery are incontinent three months after surgery and of those, as many as 18% are still incontinent 12 months after surgery. 1

Because these nerves are too small to be seen, even with the magnification of da Vinci® robotics, surgeons must rely on judgment to determine what tissue to avoid during the surgical procedure. Unfortunately, published literature has shown the location of these nerves to be variable, so using the surrounding anatomy as a landmark for them is unreliable. 3



The solution is the ProPep Nerve Monitoring System™.  Using advanced nerve monitoring technology that is standard of care for multiple surgical procedures, the ProPep Nerve Monitoring System™ brings the same instant and accurate information to the da Vinci® surgeon.  By allowing the surgeon to identify the location of the nerves at the beginning of the surgery, verify the location and function of the nerves throughout the surgery, and validate the preservation of the nerves at the completion of the operation the ProPep Nerve Monitoring System provides da Vinci® robotic surgeons, real time information on nerve location and function.

For patients, this means that surgeons using the ProPep Nerve Monitoring System™ have additional information during the operation that could potentially improve their ability to reduce or avoid damage to these critical nerves.
Dr. Randy Fagin speaks about several clinical papers supporting the use of nerve monitoring during da Vinci robotic prostatectomy (video)

The Benefits of Real-time Nerve Monitoring
& da Vinci Prostatectomy

The ProPep Nerve Monitoring System provides the surgeon with real-time information about the location and integrity of nerves during robotic daVinci® prostatectomy allowing him or her to:
  • Identify the location and assess the integrity of nerves critical to urinary control prior to prostate removal;
  • Verify the location of these nerves throughout the surgery;
  • Validate the integrity of the nerves after prostate removal. 
da Vinci Prostatectomy is a minimally invasive, robotic-assisted surgical procedure that removes the cancerous prostate gland and related structures.

Quotes from Experienced Robotic Surgeons that have performed thousands of prostatectomies

"ProPep nerve monitoring bridges the gap between surgical repair and nerve preservation for the improvement of urinary incontinence after prostate cancer surgery. This nerve monitoring is the next step in the evolution of the robotic prostatectomy. Nerve monitoring will soon become the standard care in patients undergoing robotic prostatectomies."
Dr. Ronald Kuhn

Dr. Kuhn has performed over 2,000 da Vinci prostatectomies, making him the most experienced in Arkansas and one of the most experienced robotic surgeons in the nation.
“Optimal outcomes require surgeon experience of hundreds if not thousands of cases,” according to Dr. Kella.  “The ProPep Nerve Monitoring System is a tool that could help in cases where the anatomical cues are sometimes unclear in regard to nerve location.  Preserving nerves can potentially help our patients better regain urinary and sexual function.  I am grateful to be involved with this innovative technology.”
Dr. Naveen Kella
Dr. Kella has performed over 2,000 da Vinci prostatectomies, making him the most experienced in Texas and one of the most experienced robotic surgeons in the nation.
For most patients, the three main concerns about prostate cancer are:
Getting rid of the cancer while maintaining both urinary and sexual (erectile) function.

Read the booklets below and share them with your surgeon

For more information about ProPep Surgical products,
please contact us.
© 2012 Intuitive Surgical. All rights reserved. Intuitive, Intuitive Surgical, da Vinci, da Vinci S, da Vinci Si, Single-Site,  InSite, TilePro and EndoWrist are trademarks or registered trademarks of Intuitive Surgical. All other product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.

  1. Coelho RF, Rocco B, Patel MB, Orvieto MA, Chauhan S, Ficarra V, Melegari S, Palmer KJ, Patel VR. Retropubic, laparoscopic, and robot-assisted radical prostatectomy: a critical review of outcomes reported by high-volume centers.  Endourol; 2010 Dec. 24(12):2003-15. Epub; 2010 Oct 13.
  2. Hollabaugh RS, Dmochowskia RR, Kneiba TG, Steinera MS.  (June 1998).  Urology Preservation of Putative Continence Nerves during Radical Retropubic Prostatectomy Leads to More Rapid Return of Urinary Continence. Urology; Volume 51, Issue 6 , pages 960-967.
  3. Takenaka A, Tewari A, Hara R, Leung RA, Kurokawa K, Murakami G, Fujisawa M.  Pelvic autonomic nerve mapping around the prostate by intraoperative electrical stimulation with simultaneous measurement of intracavernous and intraurethral pressure. J Urol. 2007 Jan;177(1):225-9


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