Vista surgeon performs advanced robotic procedure
A partial nephrectomy is the removal of a section of the kidney that targets the cancerous cells and preserves the rest of the kidney. Until last month, very few partial nephrectomies have been performed in northern Lake County using robotic assistance. However, that trend changed recently thanks to a surgeon at Vista Medical Center East.
In April, Dr. Nejd Alsikafi, a urologist with Vista, performed a successful partial nephrectomy on an adult female patient using the da Vinci® SiTM Surgical System at Vista. The patient's CT scan revealed a tumor on her right kidney, and because of the size and location of the tumor, he saw that she was a good candidate for a da Vinci procedure. He wanted to save as much kidney function as possible, but the minimally invasive approach would leave her with less scarring, reduced blood loss and shorter recovery time.
Dr. Alsikafi's has extensive experience with the da Vinci at Vista, which has the most advanced model in the northern suburbs. He also prefers to work with Vista's high quality surgical operating room team that is known as one of the top da Vinci teams in the area.
“The da Vinci allows us to do a partial nephrectomy without making a large incision,” said Dr. Alsikafi. “It allows us to do save more of the kidney done laparoscopically. In other words, we could still save part of the kidney by using traditional open surgery. But we couldn't do it laparoscopically and save part of the kidney without the robot.”
He performed the surgery with Vista urologist Dr. Sutchin Patel. Together, they were able to complete an operation that they typically wouldn't be able to do without the robot. Dr. Alsikafi believes in the key benefits of the da Vinci that allows surgeons to dissect in a way that they ordinarily could not. Plus, it allows them to sew and reconstruct in a way that they can't with traditional laparoscopic techniques.
What is the prognosis for the female patient? “I just saw the pathology from her recent tests, and it all looks great. She's back home and recovering very well,” he said.
While clinical studies support the effectiveness of the da Vinci Surgical System when used in minimally invasive surgery, individual results may vary. There are no guarantees of outcome. All surgeries involve the risk of major complications. Before deciding on surgery, discuss treatment options with your doctor. Understanding the risks of each treatment can help you make the best decision for your individual situation. Surgery with the da Vinci Surgical System may not be appropriate for every individual; it may not be applicable to your condition. Always ask your doctor about all treatment options, as well as their risks and benefits. Only your doctor can determine whether da Vinci Surgery is appropriate for your situation.