Robotic Surgery for Kidney Cancer
Sutter Cancer Center Treatments & Services
Treatment of kidney cancer can depend on the stage of cancer, along with the age and health of the patient. In the past, surgery for kidney cancer frequently required the removal of the whole kidney, which not only is an invasive surgery, but also left the patient with compromised renal function. Recent advancements in technology now enable surgeons to perform robot-assisted partial nephrectomies to safely and accurately remove the tumor while leaving the kidney intact. And with Sutter’s recent investment in the latest da Vinci® Si HD model, increased dexterity allows surgeons to remove tumors from all areas of the kidney, resulting in even more potential for kidney preservation.
The da Vinici® offers many benefits when compared to traditional or laparoscopic nephrectomies and partial nephrectomies, including significantly less pain, less blood loss, fewer transfusions, less risk of infection, less scarring, shorter hospital stay, shorter recovery time, increased potential for kidney preservation, and better clinical outcomes and cancer cure rates.
Traditional Open vs. da Vinci® Robotic Nephrectomy Resection Incisions

Why choose Sutter for Your da Vinci surgery?
Patients from the Sacramento region and around the country choose to have their da Vinci surgery at Sutter because:
- Sutter is the regional leader in robotic surgery and performs a variety of urologic, colorectal and gynecological surgeries using robotic surgery totaling more than 400 in 2010;
- We have a dedicated surgery team for da Vinci surgeries;
- Integrated cancer support services including chemotherapy, radiation oncology, medical oncology, cancer prevention, cancer support groups and education;
da Vinci® Nephrectomy Surgeons
The following physicians are trained in da Vinci® nephrectomies and partial nephrectomies:

Gerri had a large tumor in her kidney was faced with the possibility of having to have her entire kidney removed. Then she met Dr. David S. Yee, robotically-trained urologist with Sutter Roseville Medical Center.
Watch Gerri's Story
Read Gerri's story
Read More Patient Stories
- Apheresis
- Biologic Therapy (Immunotherapy)
- Blood and Marrow (Stem Cell) Transplant
- Chemotherapy
- Consultative Tumor Conference
- Cryoablation (Fibroademnomas/Benign Breast Tumors)
- Cyto-reductive Surgery with Heated Intraperitoneal Therapy
- Gamma Knife® Radiosurgery
- Geriatric Oncology
- Hyperthermia / Sugarbaker Procedure
- Infusion Therapy
- Laser treatments
- Medical Oncology (Outpatient and Acute Care)
- Pediatric Cancer Care
- Prostate Seed Therapy
- Provenge®
- Radiation Oncology
- Robotic Surgery for Kidney Cancer
- Robotic Surgery for Prostate Cancer
- Surgical Oncology (Outpatient and Acute Care)
- Thermal Ablation
- Other treatments
