Surgery is considered the primary treatment for most kidney cancers. A variety of surgical procedures are available depending on the type, size of tumor, extent of disease, and the patient’s overall physical condition.

Surgery options include radical nephrectomy and partial nephrectomy (kidney sparing).

Radical nephrectomy is the surgical removal of the entire kidney. Depending on your disease state and tumor location, you may not have to lose your entire kidney to surgery. A surgical technique called partial nephrectomy aims to remove only the diseased part of your kidney and spare the healthy, functioning kidney tissue.

Sparing kidney tissue is important because studies show that patients who have their entire kidney removed are more likely to suffer from chronic kidney disease (CKD) after surgery than patients who received a kidney-sparing partial nephrectomy. In fact, the American Urological Association states that partial nephrectomy is considered the treatment of choice for most T1 renal masses (small to medium-sized kidney tumors).

Inova's state-of-the-art da Vinci® robotic surgical system is a minimally invasive option for kidney surgery. The robotic platform assists surgeons by supplying enhanced vision and precision instruments, allowing a precise operation through tiny incisions.

Benefits of robotic assisted surgery over open surgery include:

• Excellent clinical outcomes and cancer control
• Short hospital stay
• Low blood loss
• Precise tumor removal and kidney reconstruction
• Greater chance of preserving the kidney in certain cancer operations
• Low rate of complications

Talk with your surgeon about whether robotic-assisted surgery is an option for you. Or call 1-855-My-Inova (1-855-694-6682) for a referral to one of our da Vinci robotic surgical specialists.