Tumors
Laparoscopic technology also is being applied for the treatment of renal cancer and small benign kidney tumors. Through one small incision, specimens can be removed for biopsy while preserving the kidney. The technique has been aided by the development of a rapidly vibrating surgical blade that raise the temperature of the tissues to boiling, and allows the surgeon to easily cut through a normal kidney to remove the tumor specimen and surrounding tissue. A special scalpel coagulates the small blood vessels and closes them off to minimize bleeding. The entire kidney, ureter and a portion of the bladder can be removed by this technique as well.