| Partial nephrectomy removes the cancer while | | | | 3. The entire tumor is cut out of the kidney. |
| preserving the normal and unaffected portion of the | | | | 4 The kidney is reconstructed. |
| kidney,thus preventing the loss of the entire kidney. | | | | Kidney reconstruction is necessary to prevent bleeding |
| Today, most kidney cancer patients have tumors that | | | | after removal of the tumor. A variety of methods are |
| can be treated with a kidney-sparing approach. Our | | | | used to reconstruct the kidney and sew it back |
| surgeons are among a select group of physicians in | | | | together. |
| the world who regularly perform this specialized and | | | | After the kidney is reconstructed, the blood flow to the |
| complicated operation, using advanced robotic surgical | | | | kidney is restored by removing the vascular clamps |
| technology through robotics. At Henry Ford, patients | | | | which are on the blood vessels supplying the kidney. |
| often can have a minimally-invasive and kidney-sparing | | | | The kidney is inspected to ensure there is no bleeding |
| approach. In most instances, the entire kidney does not | | | | from where the kidney was cut.Generally, the tumor is |
| need to be removed to treat the kidney cancer. | | | | removed from the body through one of the |
| This treatment option does not increase the chance of | | | | laparoscopic incisions. |
| recurrence (the cancer coming back) when performed | | | | Because of the complexity of this surgery, patients |
| by experienced surgeons on appropriately selected | | | | may have a higher chance of postoperative |
| patients. This surgery is extremely complex. Most | | | | complications from a robotic partial nephrectomy |
| urologists are unable to perform this surgery because | | | | instead of a robotic radical nephrectomy, which is a |
| the surgeon must reconstruct the portion of the kidney | | | | removal of the total kidney. |
| which is left in the patient. After the tumor is removed, | | | | Advantages |
| the remaining part of the kidney must be closed | | | | The major advantage of removing only the tumor |
| properly. Robotic surgery allows the surgeon to | | | | from the kidney instead of removing the entire kidney |
| perform these complex steps with greater precision | | | | is the patient will have more normal kidney remaining |
| and accuracy. | | | | with a lower chance of long term kidney failure. Also, if |
| How Partial Robotic Nephrectomy Works | | | | something happens to the patient's other kidney, the |
| 1. In this surgery, the kidney is first identified and | | | | patient will still have one in reserve. |
| released from its surrounding structures. The blood | | | | Complications |
| vessels going to the kidney are identified, and the | | | | One disadvantage of a partial nephrectomy compared |
| tumor is identified. | | | | to a radical nephrectomy is that the procedure is much |
| 2. Blood flow then is stopped to the kidney using | | | | more complicated and it takes longer to perform. |
| special vascular clamps. This is necessary in most | | | | There may be a higher chance of complications, such |
| cases, as the kidney will otherwise bleed if the blood | | | | as bleeding. Lastly, there is a small risk of reforming |
| flow is not temporarily stopped to the kidney. | | | | another tumor in the affected kidney. |