title: Hand assisted laparoscopic radical nephrectomy: comparison with open radical nephrectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We compared the results of hand assisted laparoscopic and conventional open radical nephrectomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical data on 54 hand assisted and 50 open radical nephrectomies performed at our hospital from September 1999 to October 2002 were reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean operative time in the laparoscopic and open groups was similar (194.9 and 180.7 minutes, respectively, p = 0.087). However, estimated mean blood loss (182.8 vs 262.8 ml, p <0.001), mean days to oral intake (2.6 vs 3.7 days, p <0.001) mean duration of an indwelling drain (2.6 vs 3.2 days, p <0.001) and mean hospital stay (6.8 vs 8.9 days, p <0.001) were significantly less in the laparoscopic group. In the laparoscopic group no conversions or re-explorations were required and no major complications occurred.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings suggest that hand assisted laparoscopic radical nephrectomy represents an effective, minimally invasive treatment option in patients with suspected renal cell carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, 28 Yongon-Dong, Jongno-Ku, Seoul, Korea 110-744. urology@snu.ac.kr
authors.forename: Sang Eun
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ja Hyeon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Ku
authors.forename: Cheol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kwak
authors.forename: Hyeon Hoe
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sung Hyun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Paick
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; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009392:Nephrectomy / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome