Surgical oncologists at KIMS perform total and subtotal gastrectomy for stomach cancer. Total gastrectomy is the complete removal of the stomach and the establishment of a Gastric Bypass esophagojejunostomy (a direct passage from the esophagus to the middle part of the small intestine, bypassing the stomach). This procedure is done to remove large tumors or malignant (cancerous) lesions that are localized in the upper third of the stomach. The traditional open procedure is performed through a long midline incision in the abdomen. Our completely minimally invasive (using small incisions) total and partial gastric resections for non-cancerous and cancerous tumors have also had good results.

Depending on the stage of the tumor, surgery is often the primary treatment of rectal cancer. The rectum sits in the pelvis behind the uterus (in women) and the prostate and the bladder (in men). In rectal cancer surgery, the entire rectum needs to be removed. KIMS' surgical oncologists use a surgical technique called total mesorectal excision (TME). Due to limited space in the pelvis, it is extremely difficult to perform these procedures with standard laparoscopy. The da Vinci® Robotic System allows for a precise dissection around the rectum with the help of miniaturized wristed instruments that move like the human wrist. The highly magnified, 3D vision helps surgeons preserve structures such as the pelvic nerves.

Surgery for lung cancer removes tissue that contains the tumor and lymph nodes. To remove a small part of the lung, your surgeon may use a wedge resection or segmentectomy. During a lobectomy, or sleeve lobectomy, the surgeon removes a lobe of the lung. This is the most common surgery for lung cancer. If the entire lung is removed, the procedure is called a pneumonectomy. A video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) may be done before or instead of a thoracotomy. The procedure involves inserting a long, thin, videoscope with a camera attached. Small surgical instruments are inserted into your chest through cuts made in your ribs. The procedure can be done to confirm the diagnosis of cancer, biopsy lymph nodes, or perform a resection of a lobe.

Surgery is critical in the management of pancreatic cancer, and great advances in the surgical management of pancreatic cancer have been made in the last few decades. Most recently, minimally invasive approaches have been applied to pancreas surgery, including the use of the da Vinci robot. These minimally invasive approaches allow for smaller incisions, a shorter hospital stay, and a quicker return to normal activities. Robotic surgery has successfully addressed the limitation of traditional laparoscopic surgery. In contrast to the awkward positions that are required for laparoscopic surgery, your surgeon is seated in an ergonomic and comfortable position at the robotic console which reduces the surgeon's physical burden. Instead of a flat, 2-dimensional image obtained through the traditional laparoscopic camera, your surgeon receives a highly magnified, 3-dimensional view. This view enhances depth perception and increases surgical precision. Another advantage is that the surgeon has complete control of the camera. Manipulation of robotic arm instruments improves range of motion (360 degrees) allowing your surgeon to perform more complex movements and access hard to reach areas. Specifically robotic technology offers obvious advantages in pancreatic surgery by enabling more precise dissection and superior suturing along major vessels which allows for spleen-preservation when possible.

Minimally invasive surgery allows surgeons to perform complex procedures through small incisions. The potential benefits of the da Vinci prostatectomy are: effective cancer control, improved and early return of sexual function, improved and early return of urinary continence and improved results over traditional treatments.

Several types of cancer can develop in the kidneys. Renal cell carcinoma (RCC), the most common form, accounts for approximately 85% of all cases. Treatment for kidney cancer depends on the clinical stage of the tumour. The da Vinci® Surgical System enables KIMS surgical urologists to perform partial, simple, and radical robotic nephrectomy (kidney removal) procedures. Robotic neophrectomy surgery is minimally invasive and results in less blood loss and fewer complications for patients.

There are two main surgeries for bladder cancer. Transurethral resection (TUR) removes cancerous cells from the bladder. Cystectomy removes all or part of the bladder if cancer has spread into the bladder muscle. The 3D magnification offered by the da Vinci® Surgical System gives KIMS surgical urologists better precision during this procedure, sparing vital nerves and muscle tissue. Robotic surgery offers bladder cancer patients an effective procedure with smaller incisions, less blood loss, and less post-operative complications.