title: Initial experiences with the retroperitoneal approach for endoscopic nephrectomy with the patient in the prone position.
abstract: Retroperitoneal endoscopic nephrectomy with the patient in the prone position was performed in 12 patients. Indications for this procedure were end-stage kidneys with ureteropelvic junction stenosis or distal ureteric obstruction, nonfunctional kidneys with drug resistant renin-mediated hypertension, and distal ureter malignancy. The retroperitoneal area was exposed using an open surgical technique in combination with the use of a liquid-filled dissection balloon. Removal of kidney tissue was performed with a morcellator through one of the ports. On average, the operating time was 210 min (range 160-480 min) to complete a one-sided nephrectomy. No major complications occurred. Mean hospital stay in this series was 6.6 days, and the follow-up period was uncomplicated in all cases. Retroperitoneal endoscopic nephrectomy with the patient in the prone position is an acceptable alternative to open nephrectomy in selected indications.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Research, Academic Medical Center University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Bannenberg
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Garibiyan
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vijverberg
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: De Wit
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Meijer
authors.forename: K H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Kurth
authors.forename: B P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Rademaker
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019723:Endoscopes; D004724:Endoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009392:Nephrectomy / Q000379:methods*; D016684:Prone Position