Are lymph nodes supposed to be removed during robotic prostatectomy?

Lymph nodes are part of a vast system of channels that course throughout the body eliminating excess fluid from tissues. Removing lymph nodes that are adjacent to the prostate gland during prostatectomy helps your surgeon be certain that the cancer hasn’t spread to other areas of the body, and that the entire tumor has been removed. Lymph node removal is considered a standard part of radical prostatectomy, and the robot allows us to remove these nodes with precision, and without damage to surrounding tissues.