Traditionally, cancer in the kidney required “open” surgery to remove the kidney or the kidney and the kidney tumors. In the last few years, a new less invasive approach has become more popular due to the smaller incisions and greater accuracy.

Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento offers da Vinci robotic surgery to patients with kidney tumors who need a nephrectomy or partial nephrectomy. Brian Naftulin, M.D, has mastered the da Vinici surgical technique for prostate cancer, and now offers patients the benefit of the less invasive technique for kidney cancer.

In addition to a smaller incision, da Vinici offers other benefits when removing the kidney, including substantially less pain, less blood loss and a shorter recovery period. There is also a reduced risk of infection and an increased potential for kidney preservation.

In addition to kidney cancers, Sutter Medical Center uses robotic surgery for other procedures including prostate cancer, hysterectomies, uterine disease and incontinence treatment.

For more information, see The da Vinci® Surgical System. More information about urinary track cancers is available within Sutter Cancer Center. Additional information is also available from the National Cancer Institute www.cancer.gov and the American Cancer Society www.cancer.org.