Important: This page is general education, not personal medical advice.
What is robotic nephroureterectomy?
Robotic nephroureterectomy removes the kidney, entire ureter, and a small cuff of bladder where the ureter inserts. It is a common definitive surgery for selected upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC).
Who may be a candidate?
- High-risk or non-metastatic UTUC where kidney-sparing approaches are not appropriate
- Recurrent or multifocal upper tract urothelial tumors in selected cases
- Patients fit for surgery/anesthesia and appropriate oncologic staging
- Patients counseled on alternatives and long-term surveillance needs
Goals of surgery
- Complete removal of visible upper tract urothelial cancer burden
- Pathologic staging to guide next-step treatment and surveillance
- Lower risk of local progression in appropriately selected patients
Risks and trade-offs
- Bleeding, infection, injury to nearby structures, anesthesia risk
- Temporary urinary symptoms after bladder cuff closure
- Loss of one kidney’s function; long-term renal function depends on remaining kidney health
- Bladder recurrence risk remains, requiring ongoing cystoscopic surveillance
- Additional treatment may be needed based on final pathology/staging
Typical recovery timeline
- Hospital stay: often short (commonly 1–3 days, varies by case)
- Weeks 1–2: fatigue/soreness improve gradually
- Weeks 2–6: progressive return to normal activity per surgeon guidance
- Follow-up: pathology review, kidney function checks, and bladder/upper tract surveillance plan
Procedure video (real surgical footage)
Real operative footage. Viewer discretion advised.
Source video: YouTube – live robotic nephroureterectomy with da Vinci Xi.
Questions to ask your surgeon
- Why is nephroureterectomy recommended versus kidney-sparing management in my case?
- Will I need perioperative intravesical therapy or other adjuvant treatment?
- What is my surveillance schedule (cystoscopy, imaging, urine tests)?
- How will this affect my kidney function long-term?