Frequently Asked Questions: Robotic Partial Nephrectomy
General Questions
Q: What is a Robotic Partial Nephrectomy? A: Robotic Partial Nephrectomy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure to remove a tumor from your kidney while saving the rest of the healthy organ. "Partial" means we only take the cancerous part, not the whole kidney. "Robotic" refers to the advanced da Vinci surgical system we use to perform the surgery with high precision through small keyhole incisions.
Q: Why is it better to save the kidney rather than remove it? A: Your kidneys filter waste from your blood. Saving as much healthy kidney tissue as possible helps protect you from developing Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and needing dialysis in the future. This is especially important if you have high blood pressure, diabetes, or if your other kidney is not functioning perfectly.
Q: Does "Robotic" mean a robot performs the surgery? A: No. The robot is a tool that is 100% controlled by your surgeon at all times. It cannot think or act on its own. The surgeon sits at a console in the operating room and controls the robotic arms, which translate their hand movements into smaller, more precise movements inside your body.
Q: Am I a candidate for this surgery? A: Most patients with small to medium-sized kidney tumors (typically under 4–7 cm) are candidates. It depends on the tumor's location and how deep it is inside the kidney. We will review your CT or MRI scans to determine if a partial nephrectomy is safe for you.
The Procedure
Q: How long does the surgery take? A: The procedure typically takes 3 to 4 hours, though this can vary depending on the complexity of the tumor.
Q: Will I be asleep? A: Yes, the surgery is performed under general anesthesia, so you will be completely asleep and feel no pain during the operation.
Q: How big are the incisions? A: Instead of one large 10-inch incision (used in open surgery), we make 4–5 small "keyhole" incisions, each about 1 cm long. This results in significantly less pain and smaller scars.
Recovery & Aftercare
Q: How long will I stay in the hospital? A: Most patients are discharged 2 to 3 days after surgery. You will be encouraged to walk the day after surgery to speed up your recovery.
Q: When can I return to work? A: Recovery is much faster than open surgery.
Desk jobs: You can usually return in 2–3 weeks.
Manual labor: You should wait 4–6 weeks before returning to heavy lifting or strenuous work.
Q: Will I have a lot of pain? A: Because the incisions are small, pain is usually manageable. most patients need pain medication for only a few days after going home.
Q: Are there dietary restrictions after surgery? A: Initially, you will be on a clear liquid diet in the hospital, advancing to solid food as your bowels recover. Once home, there are usually no specific restrictions, though we recommend a heart-healthy diet to protect your remaining kidney function.
Risks & Outcomes
Q: Is it possible you will have to remove the whole kidney? A: Our goal is always to save the kidney. However, in fewer than 5% of cases, if the tumor is more invasive than expected or if there is bleeding that cannot be controlled safely, we may need to convert to a Radical Nephrectomy (total removal) to ensure your safety and cure the cancer.
Q: What are the risks of this surgery? A: Robotic surgery is very safe, but like all major surgeries, it carries some risks, including:
Bleeding (rarely requiring transfusion).
Urine leak (a temporary leak of urine from the repair site, usually managed with a drain or stent).
Infection.
Hernia at the incision site.
Q: Will I need dialysis after surgery? A: It is very rare for a patient with two working kidneys to need dialysis after a partial nephrectomy. The remaining healthy kidney tissue usually takes over filtration function seamlessly.
Q: Does this cure the cancer? A: Yes. For localized kidney cancer, surgery is often the only treatment needed. We will monitor you with scans for a few years to ensure the cancer does not return