The Vattikuti Institute Prostatectomy, or VIP, is a method of robotic prostatectomy developed by surgeons at Henry Ford Hospital. Since the first case in 2001, more than 40,000 cases have been performed worldwide. The operation has achieved spectacular acceptance by patients. In 2001, less than 100 cases were done world wide (ninety percent of them were done at Henry Ford). In 2007, it is estimated that more than 30,000 patients will undergo the VIP robotic prostatectomy, with minor modifications.