At Policlinico Abano, part of the Gruppo Ospedaliero Leonardo and home to the UniCamillus School of Specialisation in Urology, an exceptional surgical procedure was carried out for the benefit of both the Italian and international urological communities. A 55-year-old patient underwent removal of a prostate tumour and a renal neoplasm in the same surgical session using the Da Vinci Single Port robot. This technology enables surgery to be performed through a single access point of approximately three centimetres.
UniCamillus is at the forefront of surgical innovation, having performed a unique case in Italy
This procedure represents a unique case and has not been reported in the international scientific literature, thanks to the combination of a highly innovative minimally invasive surgical approach and innovative, personalised anaesthetic management characterised by minimal use of opioid drugs. The patient was discharged after just two days in good clinical condition, with a remarkably rapid recovery.
The procedure was performed by a team led by Professor Luigi Schips, Director of the School of Specialisation in Urology at UniCamillus, who is also a lecturer in Urology at the same University. Professor Schips coordinates a training programme at the Abano site that is closely integrated with highly complex clinical activities.
Resection without clamping: maximum preservation of renal function
The kidney tumour was resected without clamping the vessels, i.e. without temporarily reducing the blood supply to the kidney. This minimised the risk of ischaemic damage and optimally preserved kidney function. The absence of sutures on the healthy part of the organ is another feature of minimally invasive surgery. The procedure was also performed with the patient in the supine position, which was made possible by the robotic approach and ensured better respiratory and circulatory conditions.
“When radical prostatectomy and partial nephrectomy are both required in the same surgical procedure, the patient avoids undergoing two separate operations at different times”, explains Professor Luigi Schips. “In addition, recovery is faster and hospital stays are shorter thanks to the minimally invasive nature of the surgical technology available to us and the extreme precision of the robot’s miniaturised instruments, which we use to remove the prostate, part of the kidney, and the associated neoplasms”.
Collaboration with the Anaesthesia and Resuscitation Unit at Policlinico Abano, headed by Dr Nicola Langiano, was essential. They adopted a combined approach involving spinal anaesthesia alongside general anaesthesia, without the need for orotracheal intubation. This approach was made possible by the reduced impact of the Single Port procedure on intra-abdominal and intrathoracic pressures, and it significantly limited the use of opioids.
During the postoperative period, the patient did not require any additional opioid analgesics, could eat again a few hours after the surgery and experienced no nausea or other complications. This confirmed the effectiveness of the multimodal analgesia employed.
Collaboration with the Urology Unit, led by Dr Daniele Romagnoli, was also crucial in managing the patient before, during and after the surgery.
The strategic role of the UniCamillus School of Specialisation in Urology
Its presence at Policlinico Abano enables the immediate implementation of the latest innovations in clinical practice, helping to establish new standards in the treatment of oncological urological diseases.
“Under the guidance of Professor Schips, our School of Specialisation in Urology not only takes part in, but also actively contributes to developing interventions that advance international medical practice”, says Gianni Profita, Rector of UniCamillus. “Our collaboration with Policlinico Abano strengthens our commitment to combining excellent research, technology, and clinical training”.
UniCamillus considers this a significant milestone in its commitment to promoting specialised training that prioritises patient safety, minimises invasiveness, and incorporates the most advanced robotic technologies.