Brigham and Women’s Hospital (BWH) is a leader in using state-of-the-art robotics to improve kidney cancer outcomes.
A partial nephrectomy is the partial removal of a kidney tumor while leaving the healthy part of the kidney. The remaining renal function is maximized by only removing the cancerous lesion (instead of the entire kidney), which has been shown to decrease rates of cardiovascular complications in the future.
Robotic partial nephrectomy uses a combination of high-definition 3D magnification, robotic technology and miniature instruments to enhance a urologic surgeon’s skills when removing the cancerous portion of the kidney and reconstructing the remaining healthy kidney.
Unlike traditional open partial nephrectomy, which requires a 6 to 8-inch long incision in the abdomen or side, only four tiny incisions in the abdomen (see image below) are required for the slender robotic arms and tiny surgical tools used in a robot-assisted partial nephrectomy and other robotic urologic procedures. There are four available arms – one equipped with a high definition 3-D magnification camera, two that act as the surgeon’s arms and a fourth arm that is used for holding back tissue. The camera gives the surgeon enhanced detail, true depth of field and a panoramic view, and the robotic hands’ broad range of movement enables greater dexterity. The surgeon remotely guides the robotic arms while seated at the console, located a short distance away from the patient.
Robotic surgery’s miniaturization, increased range of motion, enhanced vision and mechanical precision offer significant benefits for nephrectomy patients, including:
Adam S. Kibel, MD, and Steven Lee Chang, MD, MS, represent the robotic urology program at BWH, one of the largest robotic surgery practices in New England. Dr. Kibel, Chief of Urology, has specialized in minimally invasive surgery for urologic cancer for over 15 years. He is one of the most experienced robotic surgeons in New England and one of the most respected cancer surgeons in the country. He has lectured and published widely on the techniques and outcomes of robotic-assisted prostatectomy, partial nephrectomy, and cystectomy.
Dr. Chang completed a fellowship in urologic oncology at Stanford University Medical Center, with an emphasis on minimally invasive surgery. As a result, Dr. Chang employs robotic surgery for nearly all his patients with cancer of the kidney, prostate, or bladder. Dr. Chang frequently lectures on robotic urologic surgery and actively conducts research focused on optimizing robotic techniques and outcomes.
If you would like to schedule a consultation with our surgeons, please call the Patient Referral Service - staffed 8am-5:30pm, Monday through Friday - at 1-800-294-9999, or fill out an online request an appointment form.
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