title: Laparoscopic radical versus partial nephrectomy: assessment of complications.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We evaluated the short-term morbidity and complications of laparoscopic radical nephrectomy (LRN) compared with laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN).
  
  
  METHODS
  From May 1998 to May 2002, 114 patients were identified with a single unilateral sporadic renal tumor and a normal contralateral kidney. These individuals had undergone LRN (35) or LPN (79).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The LRN and LPN groups were analyzed for age, sex, American Society of Anesthesiologists score and body mass index. Mean tumor size in patients undergoing LRN and LPN was 2.8 +/- 1.2 (range 0.9 to 4.5) and 2.5 +/- 1.0 cm (range 1 to 4.5), respectively (p = 0.17). There were no differences between the 2 groups in terms of mean hospital stay, blood transfusion or surgical complications. There was no difference in mean preoperative and postoperative serum creatinine in patients in the LPN group. Mean postoperative serum creatinine was significantly higher than the mean preoperative level in patients in the LRN group (1.51 +/- 0.22 vs 1.18 +/- 0.37 mg/ml, range 0.6 to 2.4, p = 0.02). In each group 1 case was converted to open surgery due to bleeding.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LPN is associated with similar postoperative convalescence and complications compared with LRN. The increase in serum creatinine noted in patients undergoing radical extirpation supports the use of LPN when clinically indicated.
authors.affiliation: Brady Urological Institute, Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, Baltimore, Maryland 21287-2101, USA.
authors.forename: Fernando J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Koon H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Rha
authors.forename: Fernando
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Hernandez
authors.forename: Thomas W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Jarrett
authors.forename: Peter A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.forename: Louis R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Kavoussi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002292:Carcinoma, Renal Cell / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009392:Nephrectomy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies