Vattikuti Institute prostatectomy, a technique of robotic radical prostatectomy for management of localized carcinoma of the prostate: experience of over 100 cases

The Vattikuti Institute prostatectomy (VIP) is a technologically advanced hybrid of open and laparoscopic radical prostatectomy performed with the da Vinci robotic system's assistance. The authors developed the technique in September 2001, and continue to modify it. The authors have performed over 1100 radical prostatectomies with robotic assistance, and also have developed a completely extraperitoneal approach. The two approaches are similar except for port placement and creation of the working space. This article gives a step-by-step description of VIP and a brief analysis of outcomes.