Laparoscopic or Robotic Partial Nephrectomy is a minimally invasive kidney-sparing surgery performed to remove a kidney tumor or mass while preserving the healthy part of the kidney. It is the standard of care for small renal tumors, especially those under 4 cm.
Who Needs ?
- Small kidney tumors (T1a: ≤4 cm; T1b: 4–7 cm)
- Localized renal cell carcinoma (no spread outside the kidney)
- Solitary kidney or pre-existing kidney disease (to preserve renal function)
- Benign tumors needing removal
- Bilateral tumors (tumors in both kidneys)
How the Procedure Works:
- Anesthesia
- Cystoscopy
- Laser En-bloc Resection
- Specimen Retrieval
- Post-operative Care
Advantages:
- Kidney function is preserved
- Minimally invasive (smaller incisions, less pain)
- Faster recovery and shorter hospital stay
- Less blood loss and fewer complications than open surgery
- Robotic approach offers high precision, especially near vessels or the collecting system
Limitations / Risks:
- Technically demanding – especially for deep or complex tumors
- Risk of bleeding, urine leakage, or injury to nearby structures
- Ischemia time (kidney without blood flow) needs to be minimized to preserve function
- Higher cost, especially for robotic approach
- Requires experienced surgical team and access to robotic/laparoscopic setup