Robotic & Minimally Invasive Urologic Procedures

Minimally Invasive Urology and Robotic Surgical Care

At Lahey Clinic, minimally invasive urology focuses on treating urologic conditions using smaller incisions and advanced technology. Many procedures use laparoscopic and robotic techniques that help reduce pain, shorten hospital stays and support faster recovery.

Minimally invasive urologic surgery and laparoscopic urologic procedures often lead to:

• Smaller incisions
• Less pain and blood loss
• Shorter hospital stays
• A faster return to daily activities

Care is provided by experienced specialists in urology and reconstructive surgery who personalize treatment based on your condition and goals.

What is Robotic Surgery?

Robotic surgery is a type of minimally invasive surgery where a surgeon uses a special robot to help perform an operation. The robot doesn’t act on its own—the surgeon controls it from a console a few feet away. The system has tiny instruments and a camera on thin arms that go through small cuts. The camera gives a 3D, high-definition view inside the body, and the robot’s wrists can bend and turn more precisely than a human hand. This can lead to smaller scars, less pain, and a quicker recovery for many patients.

Robotic surgery is used in many areas of medicine, but it is especially common in urology. Urologists use it to treat both cancerous and non-cancerous (benign) conditions of the prostate, kidney, bladder, and other parts of the urinary system. Examples include prostate cancer surgery, kidney tumor removal, bladder surgery, and repairs for blockages in the urinary tract. The robot’s precision helps surgeons work in tight spaces deep in the pelvis and abdomen while protecting important nerves and tissues.

What Is Endourology?

Endourology is a specialized branch of urology that uses small, flexible scopes and advanced imaging to diagnose and treat conditions inside the urinary tract. Rather than making large incisions like traditional open surgery, endourologists work through the body's natural openings or tiny incisions — allowing them to see and treat problems deep within the kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra with remarkable precision.

This approach means less trauma to surrounding tissue, less pain and faster recovery for patients. Common conditions treated through endourology include kidney stones, ureteral obstructions and tumors of the urinary tract, among others.

Common Minimally Invasive Urologic Procedures

• Prostate Care: including robotic-assisted simple and radical prostatectomy for the treatment of both benign and cancerous prostate conditions, performed by surgeons with extensive experience in the latest minimally invasive techniques.
• Benign and Malignant Kidney Conditions: including robotic partial nephrectomy, which removes only the diseased portion of the kidney while preserving healthy tissue, and radical nephrectomy for more advanced disease. Our team tailors the surgical approach to each patient's individual condition and overall health.
• Kidney Stones: including ureteroscopy, which uses a small scope to locate and remove stones from the ureter and kidney; shockwave lithotripsy, a non-invasive technique that uses sound waves to break stones into smaller pieces; and percutaneous nephrolithotomy, a minimally invasive surgical approach for larger or more complex stones.
• Urologic Cancers: including a full range of surgical procedures for bladder, kidney, ureteral, prostate, adrenal, and other urologic cancers. Procedures include lymph node dissection, cystectomy (bladder removal), ureterectomy, and adrenalectomy, among others — all performed with a personalized, multidisciplinary approach focused on achieving the best possible outcome. When applicable, endourologic treatments that do not require incisions are used to ablate and treat tumors (such as ureteroscopy and transurethral bladder tumor resections)
• Reconstructive Surgery of the Urinary Tract: including complex repairs of the urinary tract following cancer treatment, injury, infection, or prior surgery, helping patients restore normal function and improve their quality of life.

We also perform microsurgical techniques to treat varicoceles and chronic testicular pain, as well as improve fertility  

Expertise in Advanced Urologic Technology

Each urologic surgeon is highly trained in the latest surgical technology and techniques. Care plans are tailored to your condition and may include robot-assisted urologic surgery, laparoscopic urologic treatment, or other minimally invasive approaches.

These techniques allow for greater precision and improved outcomes.