title: Laparoscopic renal surgery for benign disease.
abstract: Fifteen years after the first report, laparoscopic nephrectomy has demonstrated proven efficacy and safety comparable with an open approach, with a significant advantage of a faster recovery. Wide dissemination of these surgical techniques and continued improvement in instrumentation has made laparoscopy the preferred approach for treating benign pathologic conditions of the kidney. In this review, the expanding indications of laparoscopic simple nephrectomy and the outcomes of the larger clinical series are examined. We discuss the technical aspects of both transperitoneal and retroperitoneal approaches. Finally, laparoscopic cyst decortication and some of the novel applications of laparoscopic renal surgery are highlighted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Stanford University School of Medicine and VA Palo Alto Health Care System, 3801 Miranda Avenue, MC112, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA. jliao@stanford.edu
authors.forename: Joseph C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Breda
authors.forename: Peter G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Schulam
mesh_terms: D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D009392:Nephrectomy / Q000379:methods*; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000503:physiopathology; D018579:Patient Selection; D010537:Peritoneum / Q000601:surgery; D012187:Retroperitoneal Space / Q000601:surgery; D018570:Risk Assessment; D016896:Treatment Outcome