title: Laparoscopic and open surgical nephrectomy for xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis (XGP) is a severe, chronic renal-parenchymal infection. Nephrectomy is the treatment of choice. Because of the renal and perirenal inflammatory changes that commonly accompany XGP, the laparoscopic approach is difficult. We compared our experience with laparoscopic and open surgical nephrectomy for XGP.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective chart review of all adult nephrectomy specimens with the pathologic diagnosis of XGP between January 1997 and May 2003 was performed. Preoperative presentation, operative details, and postoperative recovery and complications were included in the data collection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three patients approached laparoscopically and eight patients approached with open surgery were found to have XGP on pathologic analysis. The disease was suspected preoperatively in all patients. Among the laparoscopically treated patients, there was 1 (33%) who suffered major complications; this was the only patient who required conversion to open surgery. Among the open-surgical group, there were 2 (22%) major and 3 (33%) minor complications. Postoperative hospitalization was longer in the open-surgical group (mean 13.7 v 4.7 days), and when the case of open conversion was excluded, narcotic use was less in the laparoscopy group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The treatment of some XGP cases with laparoscopic nephrectomy is a possible, albeit challenging, option. The incidences of intraoperative and postoperative complications were roughly equivalent in the laparoscopic and open-surgery patients in our study. If completed, laparoscopy appears to be associated with decreased postoperative morbidity. However, this may represent selection bias, and larger, prospective studies may better define the suspected benefit.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
authors.forename: Herkanwal S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Khaira
authors.forename: Rajal B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: J Stuart
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Wolf
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical; D004363:Drug Utilization; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D007902:Length of Stay; D008875:Middle Aged; D009392:Nephrectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy; D011705:Pyelonephritis, Xanthogranulomatous / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid