[Complications in laparoscopic nephrectomy].
OBJECTIVE
To report the complications and their respective management in our series of laparoscopic nephrectomy.


METHODS
Between November 1992 and March 2004, 319 patients underwent laparoscopic ablative renal surgery: 152 were women and 167 were men, mean age was 45 years (range: 0,5-82 years). There were 70 radical nephrectomies, 16 radical nephroureterectomies, 63 partial nephrectomies, 124 simples nephrectomies, 15 simples nephroureterectomies, 8 heminephrectomies and 23 living donor nephrectomies.


RESULTS
The complication rate was 5.64%. The most frequent complications were bleeding (2.5%) and retroperitoneal haematoma (1.2%). There was not statically difference in complications rate by age, sex, or approach via: transperitoneal versus retroperitoneal. Complication rate was alike with laparoscopic or hand assisted technique. There was not mortality in the series.


CONCLUSIONS
We have a low complication rate in laparoscopic nephrectomy. We believe that laparoscopy is a safe technique for patients that require ablative renal surgery when the surgical team has experience in advanced laparoscopic surgery.
Castillo
O
O
Unidad de Urología, Clínica Santa María, Departamento de Urología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Chile, Santiago. octaviocastillo@vtr.net
Bejarano
C
C
Cortés
O
O
Pinto
I
I
Hoyos
J
J
Vitagliano
G
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009392:Nephrectomy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods*