Robotic renal surgery: Radical nephrectomy (including inferior vena cava thrombectomy)

This chapter describes a standardized technique for robotic radical nephrectomy for left- and right-sided pathology. Robotic technology may enable a minimally invasive approach in avoidance of open surgery by surgeons who would otherwise be uncomfortable with standard laparoscopic nephrectomy. Particularly for larger and more challenging tumors, such as those with inferior vena caval tumor thrombi as illustrated in this chapter, the advantages of robotic instrumentation and three-dimensional vision can facilitate such complex operations.