Evaluation of the efficacy and safety of laparoscopic nephrectomy.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the efficacy and safety of laparoscopic nephrectomy.


METHODS
From June 1994 to November 1999, 10 patients underwent laparoscopic nephrectomy at Osaka University Medical Hospital and Osaka Rosai Hospital. Laparoscopic nephrectomy was performed either via transperitoneal or retroperitoneal approach under general anesthesia. These 10 cases were reviewed in respect of primary disease of the kidney, operative time, complications and postoperative convalescence.


RESULTS
Of the 10 patients, five were preoperatively diagnosed as having a non-functioning kidney with hydronephrosis, two patients were diagnosed as having an atrophic kidney, two had renal cell carcinoma and one had renal pelvic tumor. The average operative time was 374 min (range 270-675 min). The mean blood loss was 330 mL (range 60-800 mL). One patient required transfusion due to postoperative oozing. The average hospital stay after operation was 7 days. No major postoperative complications were observed.


CONCLUSIONS
Laparoscopic nephrectomy is an option in surgically managing renal disorders, including malignancies, although it has a longer operative time compared to conventional open surgery.
Department of Urology, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan. ky135@uro.med.osaka-u.ac.jp
K
K
Yoshimura
T
T
Yoshioka
O
O
Miyake
K
K
Nishimura
S
S
Miyoshi
S
S
Takahara
A
A
Okuyama
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009392:Nephrectomy / Q000379:methods*