A kidney cancer patient who had robotic surgery at the RFH to remove a tumour was able to return home to his family the same day

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Gulshan Uddin, 52, from Bethnal Green in London, underwent the two-hour robotic partial nephrectomy surgery, via a back incision (retroperitoneal approach), in April. His surgery began just before 9am and he was discharged at 7.30pm – the first time the surgery had been done as a day case at the hospital.

Mr Abhishek Reekhaye, a consultant urological and robotic surgeon, performed the operation.

Patients recover faster with less pain

He said: “Although this surgery isn’t suitable for everyone, by going through the patient’s back we don’t have to move the bowel out of the way which makes it quicker, and patients recover faster with less pain. This is not the first time we have done the surgery by this route, but it is the first time the patient has been able to leave the same day.”

For traditional partial nephrectomies, via the abdomen (transperitoneal approach), the patient will have to remain in hospital for one to two nights but going via the back avoids any potential bowel complication. This means once the patient is safely able to eat and drink again they can potentially go home. The bladder catheter is removed in the operating theatre at the end of the surgery before the patient wakes up.

Abhishek added: “This day surgery approach will be suitable for patients who are otherwise in reasonable health, ideally under 60 and live within an hour of the hospital and have someone at home with them.”

David Cullen, lead nurse for kidney cancer, said: “Our clinical nurse specialists (CNSs) are key to providing education and support for all our patients before surgery to help them understand what’s going to happen during admission and the possible side effects of surgery. This helps people to plan their aftercare once discharged from hospital.

“The kidney cancer team invites all patients to our pre-surgery kidney cancer surgical school, provides direct access to a CNS for information and support, as well as providing written information and a link to a pre-surgery patient information video.”

Gulshan was referred by his GP for a scan after he developed a urine infection in December, and he was subsequently diagnosed with kidney cancer. He took the decision to delay his surgery to enable him to take part in Ramadan.

“I was so happy to be offered this surgery as a day case so I could sleep in my own bed the same night.”

He said: “I was on bed rest for a couple of days after the operation and in regular contact with Mr Reekhaye and it took two or three weeks for me to feel back to normal. I’m now looking forward to returning to my security work for bars and clubs.”

In 2022 we reported on 22-year-old Luke Tolchard who became the first patient in London to be discharged home just hours after undergoing surgery to remove a kidney.

This latest day surgery marks another step forward for patient care as a partial nephrectomy is generally considered more complex than removing the whole kidney. This is because it involves intricate procedures to isolate blood vessels supplying the kidney and remove the kidney tumour, while preserving normal kidney tissue.