Laparoscopic Radical Nephrectomy in Turkey
A radical laparoscopic nephrectomy is a minimally invasive surgical procedure widely prescribed for the removal of a cancerous kidney. Unlike traditional open surgery done through a large incision, laparoscopic surgery requires the use of a laparoscope (wall-like camera) and a collection of tiny surgical instruments that are inserted into the abdominal wall via a series of small “steps.” A surgeon can use a laparoscope to view the inside of the abdominal cavity and make a small incision from the kidney. A laparoscopic radical nephrectomy may achieve the same result for certain patients as an open radical nephrectomy with several important advantages.
Laparoscopic nephrectomy has been performed regularly since 1990 and has translated into major benefits for patients, including reduced blood loss and transfusions, decreased pain, shorter hospital stays, better cosmesis, and quicker recovery compared to open surgery. While open surgery requires either a large abdominal or flank incision, 3-4 keyhole incisions in the abdomen are minimally invasive approaches.
