Generally, most kidney tumours are cancers whereas smaller tumours are more likely to be benign.

Benign kidney tumours should still be removed as they may grow over time.

Most kidney cancers are cured with surgical removal. If the cancer has spread, it may be difficult to cure.

CT scans are routinely performed to monitor the spread of cancer.

Traditionally, kidney tumours were removed through open surgeries with painful and large incisions.

Today, open surgeries are being replaced by minimally-invasive surgeries using robots and laparoscopes, resulting in smaller incisions, less pain and faster recovery time.

A reconstructed kidney offers two main advantages: it may decrease the risk of long-term kidney failure, and also acts as a reserve if the other kidney is damaged. Keeping as much healthy kidney tissue as possible may help you avoid the need for dialysis in coming years, especially if you have pre-existing high blood pressure and diabetes. Many studies show that cancer survival rates in patients having partial nephrectomy are equivalent to those seen in patients having radical nephrectomy; however, the patients having the kidney- sparing procedure also benefit from many other long- term health advantages and improved overall survival.

We are experienced enough in Robotic-Assisted Partial Nephrectomy and related procedures and treatments. We have performed many successful partial nephrectomies in patients who previously had been told that their whole kidney needed to be removed. We also are able to perform robotic kidney procedures in the vast majority of patients with risk factors (such as patients with obesity, multiple prior surgeries, older age, early spread of the tumor into blood vessels, or complex medical conditions) who might otherwise be told that they are not eligible for open or minimally invasive surgery.

A surgical procedure using the da Vinci® Surgical System to completely remove the prostate gland when cancer is present.

While erections may still be regained, there are other factors to consider including age, sexual function prior to and after the operation, concurrent illness, medications as well as emotional and psychological stress.

While the prostate does not affect a male’s ability to have erections, the surrounding nerves that are critical for having an erection may be damaged during prostatectomy.

Although the recovery of erectile function varies, patients regain it within one to two years after surgery. In few reported cases, erections may return in as early as 4 weeks spontaneously or with medication.

Since the semen can no longer be ejaculated due to the removal of the semen pathway during radical prostatectomy, you will be sterile. If you’re planning to have children, your sperm cells may be extracted from the testes or epididymis. You may also choose to cryopreserve your sperm before the procedure.

Some of the major benefits experienced by surgeons using the da Vinci® Surgical System over traditional approaches have been greater surgical precision, increased range of motion, improved dexterity, enhanced visualization and improved access. Benefits experienced by patients may include a shorter hospital stay, less pain, less risk of infection, less blood loss, fewer transfusions, less scarring, faster recovery and a quicker return to normal daily activities.

None of these benefits can be guaranteed, as surgery can be both patient and procedure specific.

Patients with a prior history of multiple and extensive abdominal surgery esp. kidney surgery may have excessive scarring around the kidney and renal pelvis, and therefore may not be ideal candidates for a laparoscopic approach. In such cases an open approach may be required. Patients with medical conditions such as severe lung and heart disease may not be able to tolerate a laparoscopic approach due to the need for a general anaesthetic.

Success rate in terms of complete radiographic resolution of the obstruction is approximately 90% with symptomatic relief in approximately 95%. In comparison, endoscopic techniques such as endopyelotomy are associated with a 70% success rate. Balloon dilation of a UPJ obstruction is rarely a long term solution for this condition.

In male patients, a radical cystectomy is also called a radical cystoprostatectomy and the procedure usually involves the removal of the bladder, the prostate, and the pelvic or diversion lymph nodes. In some cases the complete urethra also will need to be removed as well.

When it comes to bladder reconstruction, there are three main surgical options:The Neobladder method creates a new bladder from part of thesmall intestine. The intestine is surgically connected to the urethra and ureters so that patients can continue to urinate through their urethra. The Conduit method attaches a smaller section of small intestine to the abdominal wall and ureter. Urine is collected in a urine bag that is worn on the outside of the body .

Problems in the tube (ureter) draining urine from the kidney into the bladder can occur in the ureteropelvic junction (UPJ), the collecting tube inside the kidney, or farther "downstream" in the ureter as it travels to the bladder. Robotic surgery for UPJ obstructions is described elsewhere.

Using the da Vinci Surgical System, a surgeon can typically perform robotic surgery for any of these ureteral conditions through 3 to 5 small incisions on the abdomen. This surgery generally allows precise repair or freeing of ureteral structures with smaller incisions, reduced blood loss, less pain, shorter hospital stay (usually 2 to 3 days versus a week), and faster overall recovery before a return to normal activities. The robotic technique is especially helpful in ureteralsurgery where the surgeon needs high precision to avoid nearby blood vessels, sew back together the healthy ureter ends with the proper fit and tension, and properly insert the stents and drains. In ureterolysis for retroperitoneal fibrosis, the ability of the tiny robotic instruments to work at virtually any angle makes it much easier (versus conventional laparoscopic equipment)to detach all fibrotic adhesions from the ureter.