title: Retroperitoneoscopic decortication of symptomatic renal cysts.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the safety and efficacy of retroperitoneoscopic decortication of symptomatic renal cysts.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 24 patients with symptomatic 6- to 14-cm (mean 10.9-cm) simple renal cysts, right sided in 13 and left sided in 11, underwent retroperitoneoscopic decortication for pain relief at our center between January 1997 and December 2002. The diagnosis was based on an ultrasonogram and contrast-enhanced CT. Symptom severity, assessed using a visual analog pain scale, averaged 7.2/10 (range 6.5-9). The mean duration of symptoms was 4 months. Operative and follow-up data were collected prospectively and analyzed for symptomatic and objective evidence of improvement.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean operating time was 95 minutes, and no major complications were observed. The average hospital stay was 2.9 days (range 2-7 days). At a mean follow-up of 2.8 years (range 1.5-5 years), pain relief was reported by 22 patients (change of pain score from 7.2 to 1.4). One patient had worsening of pain at 6 weeks postoperatively. Asymptomatic recurrence of the cyst was seen in two patients on the follow-up ultrasound scans.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Retroperitoneoscopic renal-cyst decortication is a safe, minimally invasive, and efficacious procedure for the treatment of painful renal cysts, with a durable response.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology. All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India. narmadagupta@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Narmada P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.forename: Rajiv
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Goel
authors.forename: Ashok K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Hemal
authors.forename: Rajeev
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Ansari
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D021501:Flank Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D052177:Kidney Diseases, Cystic / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D010535:Laparoscopy; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D012187:Retroperitoneal Space; D016896:Treatment Outcome