Laparoscopic nephrectomy, open nephrectomy, and robotic nephrectomy are simply three different ways to surgically remove the kidney. The open nephrectomy is the original way surgery was done, by making an incision in the skin and have the surgeons place their hands inside the body to operate and remove the kidney. The object behind removing the entire kidney is to be sure all of the cancer is out of the body so it can not spread to other parts of the body. The job of the kidneys is to filter out water and waste out of our blood. Since we have two kidneys having one removed will not be a detriment to our lifestyle. However from that point on we no longer have a back up kidney if the lone kidney has any problems such as infections, kidney stones, UPJ obstruction, kidney tumor, kidney mass, diabetes, or renal cell carcinoma.

Laparoscopic nephrectomy is performed by making several small incisions to allow the laparoscopic tubes to slide in the body. On of the laparoscopic instruments is a very small camera that allows our surgeons to view what they are doing up on a monitor. The other laparoscopic instruments are for cutting, cauterizing, grasping, suturing, etc. Gas is blown into the body cavity to open up the surgical area to give room for seeing the organs and room to move around to perform the surgery. 

The open radical nephrectomy is performed when there is limited kidney function or if the kidney tumor is either large or is placed deep within the kidney. When you come to the Miami urology center our medical staff will answer all of your questions and set up any diagnostic tests that you may need to come to a conclusion on what surgical method would suit you the best. Prior to coming you can look at our kidney websites and blog or email questions for our urologists.

Laparoscopic nephrectomy has several advantages over the open nephrectomy. Generally there is less bleeding during and after the operation. The scars are much smaller and the healing time is shorter. Shorter healing time also translates into a shorter hospital stay. Patients have less discomfort and less pain with our minimally invasive laparoscopic nephrectomy Many times patients can be back into their day to day lives faster and that includes going back to work. Since every patient has their own set of circumstances, these positive trends that are seen are not guarantees of outcomes.