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Frequently Asked Questions
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How long can I expect to stay in the hospital after surgery?
The typical hospital stay after robotic partial nephrectomy is 2 to 3 days, while patients undergoing open partial nephrectomy typically require a hospital stay of 4 to 7 days. Although these are the averages for our patients, our physicians will carefully monitor your specific recovery to help determine when it would be best for you to be discharged from the hospital.
What is the usual postoperative course?
After surgery, a small drain, or tube is left near the surgical site to drain any residual fluid. Typically it is removed at the bedside (easily and without pain) on day 2 or after the kidney system is confirmed to have no leak and there is no postoperative bleeding noted. We usually start a normal diet within 1 to 2 days after surgery. Our physicians encourage early ambulation for our patients. The majority of our patients will start walking within the first day after their surgery. Upon discharge our patients typically require minimal pain medications. We encourage our patients to be active, although heavy lifting and strenuous activity should be limited for 4 weeks in order to allow the kidney and the abdominal incisions to heal properly.
How do I know if I am a candidate for robotic partial nephrectomy?
Our surgeons will evaluate the size and location of the kidney mass using radiologic imaging (such as CT scans or MRIs). With this information they can determine the best surgical approach for each patient (radical nephrectomy vs partial nephrectomy, and robotic surgery vs open surgery). Typically kidney masses that are 4cm or smaller are often amenable to a robotic partial nephrectomy. However factors such as tumor location, over kidney function and the general health of each patient are important considerations in determining the most optimal treatment approach.
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