Traditionally kidney cancer is treated by removing the malignant growth in the kidney via an open operation.

David performs key hole or laparoscopic kidney removals for both benign and malignant conditions. This surgery is typically performed using four key hole incisions through the abdomen. The lowest key hole is extended at the end of the surgery to remove the kidney so that it may be analysed in the lab. This means that recovery from surgery is similar to having your appendix removed. Hospital stay is typically 3-4 days and it takes 30 days to return to normal activity on average.

Cancer control rates are equivalent to open surgery. All tumours in the kidney up to 10cm in size should be considered for a laparoscopic nephrectomy. As with other key hole surgery there is less pain, bleeding and a faster recover with a laparoscopic nephrectomy compared with open surgery.