New da Vinci Ultrasound Scope Would Save Even More Kidneys
Published Monday, May 26, 2025
Dr. Walid Shahrour, Urologist, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, is using the da Vinci Robotic Surgical system to deliver advanced care in Thunder Bay and with donor support, he hopes to add a specialized ultrasound scope to save more kidneys.
Community-supported Robotic Surgery Making a Difference in the Lives of Patients
by Graham Strong
The new da Vinci Robotic Surgical System is already having a tremendous impact on patient outcomes. It improves patient care on so many levels including faster recovery, shorter hospital stays, and lower risk of infection. Plus, many complex cases that normally would be sent to Toronto or elsewhere can now be done right here in Thunder Bay.
Dr. Walid Shahrour, a urologist and surgeon at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, saw firsthand how powerful da Vinci can be. One of his patients got up and walked out of the Hospital on the same day after major surgery – something that would be impossible with traditional open surgery.
“It's an amazing piece of equipment,” Dr. Shahrour said. “Patients stay in the Hospital a couple of nights – or even a few hours – instead of weeks.”
Dr. Shahrour told the story of another patient with kidney cancer. Previously, this surgery would have required partial or full removal of the kidney. That could lead to problems down the road for the patient including medications, dialysis, and possibly a shorter life expectancy.
“I told her, even using open surgery, her cancer was in a tricky place, and we would most likely need to take out the whole kidney,” Dr. Shahrour said.
But Dr. Shahrour was able to offer the patient a much, much better treatment option with da Vinci. Thanks to da Vinci's minimally invasive techniques, 3D vision cameras, and delicate instruments, he was able successfully perform an operation not otherwise possible.
“With the technology, it was very easy. We preserved the whole kidney, and that was it – she went home the next day. And, instead of one kidney, she has two, which can help prevent in the future dialysis and renal failure.”
Although da Vinci helps surgeons see inside the body, it can't see inside organs like kidneys on its own. That's why Dr. Shahrour is raising $60,000 through the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation's Urology Fund to purchase a special ultrasound scope that will allow him to pinpoint tumours inside the kidney.
With this ultrasound device, even more kidney cancer patients will have access to this remarkable treatment option.
“Instead of taking out all or a bigger part of the kidney, I can remove just the cancerous tumours,” Dr. Shahrour said. “That saves more healthy tissue, which can dramatically increase the patient's lifespan and quality of life.”
The Hospital brought da Vinci to Thunder Bay on a pay-per-procedure basis, and donors helped purchase several additional items to enhance the system including a new operating bed and two longer, specialized sterilizers for da Vinci's instruments.
Not only do your donations directly impact patient care, you're having an indirect impact as well. Community-supported programs such as da Vinci help recruit new surgeons to Thunder Bay.
“Equipment attracts talent,” Dr. Shahrour said. “The more cutting-edge equipment we have, the more cutting-edge surgeons will come to live, work, and do research in Thunder Bay.”
Your donations are making a difference! You can help Dr. Shahrour save even more kidneys by donating to the Urology Fund for a new ultrasound scope for the da Vinci system. This scope will also be available to all surgeons using da Vinci in Thunder Bay, helping potentially many other patients as well.
Make your donation online right now at: healthsciencesfoundation.ca/robot