title: Intact specimen extraction during renal laparoscopy: muscle-splitting versus muscle-cutting incision.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether a muscle-splitting extraction incision decreases patient morbidity after renal laparoscopic surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-one patients undergoing laparoscopic simple nephrectomy, radical nephrectomy, or nephroureterectomy had intact specimen extraction through a muscle-splitting incision. The operative and recovery data of these patients were retrospectively compared with those of a matched cohort of 21 patients who underwent specimen extraction through a muscle-cutting incision. With the exception of a greater percentage of male patients in the muscle-cutting group (86% v 52%), there were no statistically significant differences between the two groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the muscle-splitting and muscle-cutting groups, there was no significant differences in regard to analgesic use (9.0 +/- 6.6 mg of morphine sulfate equivalent v 7.9 +/- 4.9; P < 0.51), hospital stay (31.2 hours v 30 hours; P < 0.79), recovery (6.7 +/- 4.7 days v 5.7 +/- 4.7 days; P < 0.38), or convalescence (4.2 +/- 2.2 weeks v 4.1 +/- 2.0 weeks; P < 0.90).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A muscle-splitting incision for intact renal specimen extraction does not necessarily decrease postoperative morbidity compared with a muscle-cutting extraction.
authors.affiliation: Section of Laparoscopic and Minimally Invasive Surgery, Urological Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Ohio 44195, USA.
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Savage
authors.forename: I S
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Gill
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000601:surgery*; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009017:Morbidity; D009132:Muscles / Q000601:surgery*