Associate Professor Phillip Stricker
M.B. B.S. (New South Wales) (Honours) F.R.A.C.S.
Associate Professor Phillip Stricker is the Director of the St Vincent’s Prostate Cancer Centre. A practice totally dedicated to the care of prostate cancer patients, and committed to education, research and the qualified use of the latest technologies. Radical prostatectomy performed robotically is now an established and highly successful surgical option.
Associate Professor Phillip Stricker initiated the first robotic surgery program for prostate cancer in New South Wales, and has now performed over 700 robotic cases. He and his team are at the forefront of robotic prostatectomy in Australasia.
This site presents an overview of robotic surgery at the the St Vincent’s Prostate Cancer Centre. However, with over twenty years of experience in the management of prostate cancer, Associate Professor Stricker is uniquely qualified to help patients select the appropriate treatment for their particular localised prostate cancer. To learn more about other treatment options you can visit the main site or contact the St Vincents Prostate Cancer Centre directly.
Robotic prostatectomy
Da Vinci Robotic prostatectomy is the newest and most advanced surgical option for qualified patients. This method gives a surgeon greater visualization, enhanced dexterity, precision, control and superior ergonomics. This very precise surgery only requires 5 small incisions (1cm) in the abdomen.
The da Vinci Robotic System
The da Vinci Surgical System is powered by state-of-the-art robotic technology. The System allows your surgeon's hand movements to be scaled, filtered and translated into precise movements of micro-instruments within the operative site. The magnified, three-dimensional view the surgeon experiences enables him to perform precise surgery in complex procedures through small surgical incisions.
The da Vinci System enhances surgical capabilities by enabling the performance of complex surgeries through tiny surgical openings. The System cannot be programmed nor can it make decisions on its own. The da Vinci System requires that every surgical maneuver be performed with direct input from your surgeon. The da Vinci Surgical System has been successfully used in thousands of prostate cancer procedures world-wide.
In Associate Professor Stricker's hands for qualified patients, there are numerous potential benefits including:
- Shorter hospital stay
- Less pain and scarring
- Less blood loss and fewer transfusions
- Faster recovery
- Quicker return to normal activities
- Improved clearance for early stage cancers
- Quicker return of urinary control
- Quicker return of sexual function
Surgical Benefits:
- 3-D visualization provides the surgeon with a true 3-dimensional view of the operating field. This direct and natural hand-eye instrument alignment is similar to open surgery with all-around vision and the ability to zoom-in and zoom-out.
- Dexterity: the da Vinci Robotic System provides the surgeon with intuitive operative controls that allows the experienced surgeon to use his open surgery skills rather than having to use counter-intuitive motions typically required by a laparoscopic approach.
- Surgical Precision: permits the surgeon to manipulate instruments with such accuracy that the current definition of surgical precision is exceeded.
- Range of Motion: the robotic instruments offer the surgeon full range of motion and ability to rotate the instruments through tiny incisions
- Ergonomics: the surgeon can sit in a comfortable position, allowing him to concentrate fully on the surgery.
- Improved Access: Surgeons perform complex surgical maneuvers through 1-cm ports, eliminating the need for large traumatic incisions.
