A Pilot Clinical Trial for the Prevention of Lymphoceles After Robotic Pelvic Lymph Node Dissections for Prostate Malignancies Using the da Vinci® EndoWrist® One™ Vessel Sealer

Investigators propose a prospective, randomized, single-blinded study of patients diagnosed with pelvic cancer who are electing to undergo robotic surgery with PLND. The patients in our trial will be pelvic cancer patients at risk for lymphocele after PLND. Given the safe nature of the product and the patient's risk for lymphocele after PLND and subsequent potential morbidity, there is justification to give patients the option for inclusion in the study. Investigators intend to determine whether the rate of lymphocele formation after PLND at the time of robotic pelvic cancer surgery can be reduced by using the robotic Vessel Sealer unilaterally for the lymph node dissection. The side of the pelvis of each patient will be randomly selected by Excel's® random number function "RAND()" to receive the Vessel Sealer dissection. Investigators intend to use this device unilaterally so the contralateral side can serve as an internal control and eliminate patient specific confounding variables such as BMI, and surgeon specific factors such as degree and method of hemostasis utilized by each surgeon. In addition, Dr. Abaza will be the only surgeon performing these procedures, eliminating variation in technique between surgeons.