Papers
5
Total Citations
185
H-Index
4
About
Ravi Kacker is a urologic surgeon and researcher whose work focuses on the comparative effectiveness and cost-efficiency of surgical approaches for prostate and kidney cancers. His most influential studies examine the trade-offs between open, laparoscopic, and robotic-assisted procedures. In a landmark 2010 paper (70 citations), Kacker analyzed positive surgical margin rates in radical retropubic versus robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy, providing critical data on oncologic outcomes. He is perhaps best known for a series of cost-comparison studies on partial nephrectomy (2012, 59 citations), where he demonstrated that while robotic and laparoscopic approaches offer minimally invasive benefits, they carry significantly higher hospital costs than open surgery—a finding that has shaped institutional decision-making and health policy discussions. Kacker’s work also includes a single-surgeon experience (2011, 50 citations) documenting the learning curve and outcomes when transitioning from laparoscopic to robotic partial nephrectomy, offering practical guidance for surgical programs. By combining rigorous outcomes analysis with health economics, Kacker has helped urologists and hospitals make evidence-based choices about surgical technology adoption, balancing patient recovery with financial sustainability.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
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- 2Comparing Costs of Robotic, Laparoscopic, and Open Partial Nephrectomy59 citations · 2012
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- 5Cost comparison of robotic, laparoscopic, and open partial nephrectomy.2 citations · 2012