Partial nephrectomy (the removal of part of a kidney or a kidney tumour) is the gold standard surgical treatment for early kidney cancer because it preserves kidney function.
Surgical approaches for nephrectomy include open nephrectomy (an invasive procedure that involves a large surgical incision, or cut into the skin), laparoscopic nephrectomy (a minimally invasive procedure that involves several smaller incisions and the use of smaller surgical tools), and robotic-assisted nephrectomy (a minimally invasive procedure that involves the use of a robotic system operated by the surgeon). Laparoscopic nephrectomy is most often used for radical nephrectomy (the removal of an entire kidney), whereas robotic-assisted nephrectomy is most often used for partial nephrectomy. Although robotic-assisted nephrectomy is increasingly being adopted, whether it offers benefits over conventional surgical procedures remains unclear.
This health technology assessment looked at how safe, effective, and cost-effective robotic-assisted partial nephrectomy is for adults with kidney cancer. It also looked at the budget impact of publicly funding robotic-assisted partial nephrectomy and at the experiences, preferences, and values of people with kidney cancer, as well as those of surgeons who perform nephrectomy.
Read the full health technology assessment report for more information.
Robotic-Assisted Partial Nephrectomy for Kidney Cancer: A Health Technology Assessment
October 2023
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