A16. Role of minimal invasive procedures in urology

From greek.doctor

A minimally invasive procedure usually refers to a laparoscopic surgery, but one can also consider cystoscopic procedures like ureteral stenting or percutaneous nephrostomy as minimally invasive procedures as well. Laparoscopy and robot-assisted techniques are widely used in urology.

Robot-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy (RALP) may be associated with less bleeding and shorter hospital stay than open surgery.

Kidney surgery, especially partial nephrectomy benefits from robot assistance.

  • Advantages of minimally invasive procedures
    • Lower infection
    • Faster recovery
    • Less time spent in hospital
    • Smaller scar
    • Less postoperative pain
  • Disadvantages of minimally invasive procedures
    • Difficult to learn
    • Longer operation time
    • Limited view
  • Laparoscopic nephrectomy
    • Radical nephrectomy – Small RCC
    • Simple nephrectomy – benign kidney tumour
  • Laparoscopic nephropexy
    • For nephroptosis
  • Laparoscopic nephroureterectomy
    • For urothelial cancer
  • Laparoscopic pelvic lymphadenectomy