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Renal surgeries with the Da Vinci robotic system primarily concern the treatment of kidney cancer. Robotic procedures for benign kidney diseases include robotic simple nephrectomy, robotic renal cyst removal and robotic nephrocoagulation for nephropathy.

Renal Carcinoma (RC) is a tumor that arises from the uncontrolled proliferation of cells in specific areas of the kidney. It is the third most common neoplasm of the genitourinary system in men.

Often, most kidney tumors are diagnosed at an asymptomatic stage during preventive examinations such as ultrasound, CT and MRI. Only 10% of patients with kidney malignancy present with symptoms (low back pain, hematuria and a palpable mass).

What is the most common primary tumor that occurs in the kidney

Malignant tumors develop in the kidney either primarily or secondarily, that is, as a consequence of tumor metastasis from another part of the body. The most common primary malignant tumor of the kidney (80-90% of cases) is renal cell carcinoma (renal adenocarcinoma) that develops in the renal cortex, while the next most common is transitional cell carcinoma that develops in the renal pelvis and is histologically related to tumors that develop in the urinary bladder. Wilms tumor or nephroblastoma is common in children.

It is particularly important to mention that because biopsy is contraindicated in the diagnosis of kidney cancer (in order to avoid cancer spread), robotic surgery offers enormous help to patients in whom extensive surgery to remove the kidney is avoided, while later during histopathological examination it may turn out that it is a benign tumor.

Kidney cancer can be cured.

Treatment of kidney cancer

Today, in the context of minimally invasive surgery, radical nephrectomy is performed robotically with equally good oncological results as those of open and laparoscopic surgery. Robotic partial or radical nephrectomy is now an established method for treating kidney disease and offers many advantages to the patient.

The first installed robotic head system for intraoperative (3D) ultrasound in Greece operates at the Interbalkan Medical Center of Thessaloniki, which is indicated for robotic surgeries to remove endophytic and non-endophytic kidney tumors with difficult access. It provides the ability to locate and define the boundaries of the tumor in real surgical time and remove it in its entirety during the course of the surgery.

Kidney and renal pelvis surgeries require special surgical experience, because the kidney is located close to large vessels such as the aorta and the inferior vena cava. Also, if during the operation the surgeon diagnoses suspicious findings and proceeds to a rapid biopsy, if the malignancy is confirmed, the same surgery may include the removal of the entire ureter (robotic nephroureterectomy).

Partial nephrectomy

Partial nephrectomy is one of the most difficult operations. However, the possibilities offered by 3D imaging and the high-tech tools of robotic surgery, make the result safer. Partial nephrectomy is performed on tumors whose location makes the operation possible, without risking the excellent oncological outcome.

Partial nephrectomy is particularly important in patients who, due to dialysis or previous surgery to remove the other kidney, it is valuable to preserve the kidney with a partial nephrectomy.

The advantages of robotic nephrectomy

• Avoidance of kidney loss that can lead to Chronic Renal Failure
• Intervention with very small incisions,
• Short hospitalization time (4-5 days),
• Minimal pain,
• Reduced chance of infection,
• Minimal blood loss and zero transfusion,
• Rapid recovery from surgery,
• Rapid return to normal activity,
• Equal oncological result to that of classical surgery,
• Urinary continence,
• Maintenance of erectile function.

Interbalkan Medical was the first to install the DA VINCI Robotic System in Thessaloniki and Northern Greece, providing robotically certified Urological Surgeons with the ability to have the greatest experience in radical or partial nephrectomy for kidney tumors today.