Minimally Invasive Surgery
Kidney Surgery
The kidneys are two small organs located behind the abdomen, on each side of the spine. By producing urine, kidneys remove toxic by-products and excess fluids from the body, which helps maintain a critical balance of salt, potassium and acid.
 A common condition affecting the kidneys is blockage of the ureters, the tubes that transport urine from the kidneys to the bladder. Blockages of the ureters can be present from birth or acquired through illness or injury, and can create serious side effects like infections and kidney stones. If left untreated, blockages can cause chronic pain and may damage the kidney over time.
Cancer, a second condition affecting the kidneys, can form in the small tubes inside the kidney, which are used for filtering blood, and in the center of the kidney where urine collects.
Non-cancerous kidney conditions involving a
blockage can usually be treated by removing it;
depending on the type of blockage, surgery
may be used. Kidney cancer, on the other
hand, is relatively resistant to radiation and
chemotherapy. As a result, the standard
treatment for localized kidney cancer is removal
of the kidney or kidney tumors.
Kidney surgery is traditionally performed
using an open approach, which requires a
large abdominal incision. Another approach,
conventional laparoscopy, is less invasive, but
limits the doctor’s dexterity, visualization and
control, compared to open surgery.
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