Prof. Alcaraz was the first in the world to master several progressive surgical approaches:
- Surgery to remove a kidney from a donor using NOTES-endoscopic transluminal surgery through the body's natural orifices. In this case, the kidney is removed through the vagina.
- Removal and subsequent transplantation of a kidney using the LESS method - laparoscopic single port surgery. The organ is removed through a small puncture in the umbilicus.
- Robotic kidney transplantation using the Da Vinci Surgical System.
The team of prof. Alcaraz is a pioneer in the world in the use of these techniques. In 2009, they performed the first transvaginal extraction of a kidney due to a tumour and these techniques are now also used to perform living donor kidney transplants, with more than 100 procedures performed to date.
Minimally invasive techniques
All these techniques are minimally invasive, are accompanied by a lower risk of blood loss and infection, leave no scarring and do not require prolonged recovery. Most patients can return to normal life within 48 hours after surgery.
Prof. Alcaraz has performed a large number of robot-assisted surgeries. He uses this approach mainly for radical removal of the prostate gland. According to the doctor, he does not use the Da Vinci robot for kidney surgeries as he relies solely on his experience. But at the same time, he often conducts robotic surgery master classes for novice surgeons.
