New Hand-assisted Laparoscopic Technique for Kidney Cancer Surgery

Oncology hospitals in India use a new technique for kidney removal in cancer patients with small and primary kidney tumors.

The new technique, hand-assisted laparoscopic nephrectomy, offers the advantages of two surgical techniques to cure kidney cancer: the smaller incisions and shorter recovery times of laparoscopic surgery, and the option of removing a completely intact kidney afforded by conventional surgery, It is also an ideal approach for elderly patients, who may be too frail for conventional surgery, which could be very debilitating.

The laparoscopic kidney cancer surgery technique involves a two-to-three inch incision above the belly button to permit the surgeon to insert his hand into the video-viewed operating field. Like other laparoscopic procedures, the field is also accessed via three tiny abdominal punctures to admit thin tubes: one for the lighted, fiber-optic camera, the others for introduction of tiny remotely operated instruments.

Advantages of laparoscopic kidney cancer surgery are several, traditional kidney cancer surgery requires a 10- to 12-inch incision wrapped under the ribs, and sometimes involving removal of the lowest rib. "Recovery time for the new technique is two to three weeks, as opposed to four to six weeks for traditional surgery. The hospital stay for this advanced kidney cancer surgery is also shorter, an average of three days, versus four to five days.

That intact kidney removal is very important in treatment of kidney cancer. An organ must be crushed to be removed laporascopically. Another advantage is use of the surgeon's hand. The hand, with its acute tactile sensitivity and instant functional adaptation, is a marvelous surgical instrument, It can not only feel exactly where blood vessels are during kidney cancer surgery, but it can also convert instantly into a hemostat, clamping them off in the event of bleeding.

However the new technique for kidney cancer surgery is not appropriate for those with extensive surgical scarring or large kidney tumors

<< Back to Newer Techniques