| Minimally-invasive surgery for kidney removal has | | | | artery bringing blood to the kidney and one vein exiting |
| become a new standard of care for the removal of | | | | the kidney and bringing blood back to the body. In |
| kidney cancer. The procedure can also be performed | | | | some cases, there are more than one artery and vein. |
| for kidneys which no longer function. The surgery itself, | | | | This is not considered abnormal, but it is less common. |
| known as a Robotic Radical Nephrectomy, is | | | | When the artery and vein are identified, they are |
| performed with tiny keyhole incisions. | | | | clipped or ligated. This cuts off the blood flow to the |
| Through these incisions, robotic surgical instruments | | | | kidney permanently. |
| and a camera are inserted to perform the surgery. | | | | Once the blood vessels are divided, the rest of the |
| After inflating the abdomen with gas, the colon is | | | | kidney is removed from its attachments to the liver or |
| moved away from the kidney. The kidney normally | | | | spleen, back muscles and the adrenal gland. In some |
| has a covering of fat around it. This fat is left on the | | | | cases, the adrenal gland is removed with the kidney. |
| kidney so the cancer or tumor is not exposed. | | | | After the kidney is totally freed up, it is removed from |
| After the kidney is dissected, the blood vessels going | | | | the body through a small incision. Then the incisions are |
| to the kidney are located. The kidney normally has one | | | | closed and the patient is taken to the recovery room. |