Laparoscopic urological surgery is a well established technique of minimally invasive surgery, utilised extensively in our urological practice. It refers to telescopic evaluation of the urinary tract via the abdominal wall using keyhole instrumentation. This is an alternative to incision based surgery. It is used in part for diagnostic information, but mainly treating developmental conditions and urological cancers. Most commonly this involves kidney, ureter and urinary bladder. If a condition is appropriate for clinical management, it offers advantages of more rapid recovery, shorter hospital stay and earlier return to normal activities.
Robotic surgery is a specialised version of laparoscopic surgery used by Dr Roger Watson for prostatic surgery and its major benefits are reduced pain, reduced blood loss, shorter hospital stay, earlier return to general activities and at times some specific benefits relating to magnification of small structures.