Nephron-sparing surgery: a call for greater application of established techniques.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the results of open partial nephrectomy (OPN) over a 15-year period in a large UK teaching hospital and to compare results with other series including minimally invasive techniques, as nephron-sparing techniques are still under-utilized in the surgical treatment of renal carcinoma. A standardized technique is described that we think minimizes the risk of postoperative urinoma.


METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed a series of 141 patients who underwent OPN performed over a 15-year period in one centre by the senior author (D.M.A.W.). A notable feature of this series compared with others is the high proportion of patients undergoing other major synchronous surgery.


RESULTS
In all, 141 patients underwent 147 OPNs, with six undergoing bilateral procedures, of which 82 were for imperative indications (single kidney, bilateral synchronous tumours, or pre-existing renal impairment). There were three perioperative deaths, two in patients undergoing other synchronous major surgery. In all, 38 patients had postoperative complications: 28 patients required blood transfusion (four required intervention for their bleeding), five required acute dialysis and three late dialysis. There was a 90% cancer-specific survival rate at a median follow-up of 2 years.


CONCLUSIONS
This series confirms the trend towards improved outcomes and decreased complications in OPN at a time when its place is challenged by minimally invasive techniques.
Department of Urology, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK.
James G
JG
Young
Christopher J
CJ
Luscombe
Ciaran
C
Lynch
D Michael A
DM
Wallace
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007680:Kidney Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009392:Nephrectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D009399:Nephrons / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome