Urologic laparoscopy in a Danish county hospital: indications and results.
OBJECTIVE
To describe laparoscopic surgeries performed over a 5-year period in a low-volume hospital, by type of operation and complications.


METHODS
A total of 235 patients underwent laparoscopic procedures. All cases were prospectively recorded in a database and then reviewed.


RESULTS
The most frequent operations were nephrectomy in 66 patients, pelvic lymph node dissection in 38 patients, varicocelectomy in 38 patients, pyeloplasty in 28 patients, and placement or replacement of peritoneal dialysis catheters in 21 patients. The complication rate was 6.4% (15 cases), with 1.3% visceral (3 patients) and 5.1% port site-related (12 patients). The mortality rate was 0.4% (1 patient). The conversion rate was 4.7% due to vascular injuries during dissection near the kidney hilus (6 patients) or slow progression/adhesions (5 patients). The reoperation rate was 1.6% (4 patients). Six patients received blood transfusions.


CONCLUSIONS
Urologic laparoscopy is a safe modality in a low-volume country hospital, with no evidence of increased morbidity and mortality.
Lund
Lars
L
Department of Urology, Viborg Hospital, Viborg, Denmark. Lars.Lund@Vanderbilt.edu
Grazvydas
Tuckus
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016063:Blood Loss, Surgical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002404:Catheterization / Q000379:methods; D003718:Denmark; D005260:Female; D006766:Hospitals, County / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000401:mortality / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008197:Lymph Node Excision / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009392:Nephrectomy / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010530:Peritoneal Dialysis / Q000379:methods; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012086:Reoperation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D013520:Urologic Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014646:Varicocele / Q000601:surgery; D055815:Young Adult