Minimally invasive surgery in urology is part of the cutting edge of surgery offered by the urologists at The University of Kansas Medical Center. This technique involves using optical magnifying scopes through small incisions in the body called ports to remove diseased organs or correct urologic problems. The Department of Urology at the University of Kansas Medical Center has one of the few fellowship trained minimally invasive surgeon in the Kansas City area. Dr. David Duchene is very experienced in this technqiue which can often result in less pain, faster return to work, and less scarring than traditional "open surgery". From operations as complex as laparoscopic radical prostatectomy, laparoscopic nephrectomy and partial nephrectomy, to repair of kidney blockages, the urologists at KU have one of the largest experiences with these techniques in the Kansas City area. Dr. Brantley Thrasher also performs robotic prostatectomies.

Building on these procedures, our physicians are exploring new options using laparoscopy and minimally invasive surgery to improve patient care. The ultimate goal being to minimize discomfort for our patients and to return them to their normal activites as soon as possible. The Dept of Urology is the first in the region to use the new da Vinci Si system and our providers, Drs Thrasher and Duchene are leaders in the field, specializing in high volume robotic surgery especially prostatectomy for prostate cancer. We also perform robotic pyeloplasty and ureteral reimplantation and, now with 2 robotic systems, we are expanding our uses to include robotic partial nephrectomy and robotic cystoprostatectomy.

da Vinci Si

• Enhanced high-definition 3D vision for superior clinical capability
• An updated user interface for streamlined setup and OR turnover
• Extensibility for digital OR integration
• Dual-console capability to support training and collaboration during minimally invasive surgery.

The da Vinci Si System retains and builds on the core technology at the heart of the existing da Vinci and da Vinci S^™ Systems:

• Advanced 3D HD visualization with up to 10x magnification and an immersive view of the operative field
• EndoWrist^® instrumentation with dexterity and range of motion far greater than even the human hand
• Intuitive^® motion technology, which replicates the experience of open surgery by preserving natural eye-hand-instrument alignment and intuitive instrument control

Together, these technological advancements provide da Vinci surgeons with unparalleled precision, dexterity and control that enable a minimally invasive approach to many complex surgical procedures.

Read More About the da Vinci Si System's Features and Benefits