Retroperitoneoscopic nephron-sparing surgery of renal tumor using a microwave tissue coagulator without renal ischemia: comparison with open procedure

PURPOSE: It is ideal to use not a transperitoneal but a retroperitoneal approach for both open and endoscopic partial nephrectomy. We compared the results of retroperitoneoscopic nephron-sparing surgery for small renal tumors using a microwave tissue coagulator without renal pedicle clamping with those of a retroperitoneal open procedure. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between 1996 and 2002, eight patients with small renal tumors underwent retroperitoneoscopic partial nephrectomy without renal ischemia, and nine patients with small renal tumors underwent open partial nephrectomy via a retroperitoneal approach. Both groups were operated on using a microwave tissue coagulator. RESULTS: Retroperitoneoscopic partial nephrectomy without renal ischemia was performed without any major or minor complications in any patient. The mean operation time for retroperitoneoscopic surgery was significantly longer than that for open partial nephrectomy (221.9 minutes v 145.9 minutes; P = 0.0004). However, the mean estimated blood loss for retroperitoneoscopic surgery was less than that for open partial nephrectomy (137.5 mL v 334.8 mL; P = 0.012). In addition, the retroperitoneoscopic group seemed to recover more rapidly than the open surgery group. CONCLUSIONS: Retroperitoneoscopic nephron-sparing surgery of small renal tumors using a microwave tissue coagulator without renal ischemia is feasible as minimally invasive procedure. It results in saving renal function, minimal blood loss, and rapid recovery.     

Impact of microwave tissue coagulation during laparoscopic partial nephrectomy on postoperative renal function

Laparoscopic partial nephrectomy for small renal tumors has been performed with increasing frequency over the past few years. We prospectively evaluated preoperative and postoperative differential renal function in patients with functioning contralateral kidneys who underwent laparoscopic partial nephrectomy using a microwave tissue coagulator without hilar clamping. Seven patients (five men and two women) in this prospective protocol underwent laparoscopic partial nephrectomy for exophytic tumors using a microwave tissue coagulator when the tumor was 2 cm or less in diameter. Renal scanning with ⁹⁹technetium-labeled diethylenetetraminepentaacetic-acid scan was performed preoperatively and postoperatively at 7 days and 6 months after surgery in all patients. The mean tumor size and surgical duration were 17.0 ± 2.3 mm and 161.1 ± 20.5 min, respectively. Intraoperative blood loss was 35.6 ± 40.7 ml. The preoperative glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and differential split renal function (SF) in the affected kidney were 45.7 ± 12.8 ml/min and 50.5 ± 3.3%, respectively. On postoperative day 7 and at 6 months, GFR and SF in the affected kidney were 36.2 ± 9.0 and 36.8 ± 10.9 ml/min and 44.3 ± 4.1 and 45.0 ± 5.1%, respectively. No postoperative complications occurred. Laparoscopic nonischemic partial nephrectomy using a microwave tissue coagulator has the advantage of technical ease and adequate hemostasis. However, its indication should be restricted to small exophytic renal tumors due to the expected collateral damage causing renal impairment.     

Posterior retroperitoneoscopic partial nephrectomy using microwave tissue coagulator for small renal tumors

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Laparoscopic partial nephrectomy remains surgically challenging because of the potential for excessive blood loss, infection, and the development of urinary fistulas. In addition, posterior retroperitoneoscopic partial nephrectomy is not popular because of the limited space for surgical manipulation. We evaluated the usefulness of a microwave tissue coagulator in posterior retroperitoneoscopic partial nephrectomy for small posterior renal tumor. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Posterior retroperitoneoscopic partial nephrectomy was performed without renal pedicle clamping using a microwave tissue coagulator in six patients with small posterior renal tumors. RESULTS: The mean operative time was 136 minutes (range 78-180 minutes), and the blood loss was <20 mL. No serious operative complications occurred, and there was no significant deterioration of renal function. CONCLUSION: Posterior retroperitoneoscopic partial nephrectomy using a microwave tissue coagulator can be a safe and less invasive method for the treatment of small posterior renal tumors.     

Retroperitoneoscopic partial nephrectomy using microwave coagulation for small renal tumors

OBJECTIVES: The outcome of laparoscopic partial nephrectomy using a microwave tissue coagulator for treatment of small renal tumors was studied.PATIENTS AND METHODS: From June 1999 to May 2001, eight patients with small renal tumors of less than 5.0cm in diameter (1.0-5.0cm, T1N0M0) underwent retroperitoneoscopic partial nephrectomy. To control bleeding during the partial nephrectomy, the renal parenchyma around the tumor was coagulated using a microwave tissue coagulator with a needle of 1.5cm length. The tumor was circumscribed within the coagulated area with 8-13 punctures of the coagulation needle, and partial nephrectomy was performed using scissors and bipolar forceps.RESULTS: All eight patients successfully underwent the procedure retroperitoneoscopically. The average operative time was 295 minutes and the average blood loss was 129ml. Three patients showed urine leakage from the renal calyces, which was controlled by suturing retroperitoneoscopically. In two patients, the surgical margin was revealed to be positive for renal cell carcinoma by frozen section pathology and additional resection was performed in these individuals. The patients were discharged from the hospital with almost full convalescence on day 10 on average. Within the mean follow-up period of 10.4 months, no recurrence was found when examined with computer tomography (CT) using contrast media. As a complication, one patient experienced a decrease in function of the operated kidney caused by unknown reason.CONCLUSION: Retroperitoneal partial nephrectomy using a microwave tissue coagulator is useful for treatment of small renal tumors located at the peripheral area of the kidney. Bleeding from the renal parenchymal incision site is well controlled without occlusion of the renal artery with additional use of a bipolar coagulator, when necessary. Further experience and long-term follow-up are mandatory however, to establish the usefulness of this technique.     

Application of the microwave tissue coagulator: is it beneficial to partial nephrectomy?

BACKGROUND/AIM: The indications of partial nephrectomy have expanded after the introduction of new techniques for preventing excessive blood loss and avoiding deterioration of the renal function after clamping the renal pedicle. We present our clinical experience of partial nephrectomy for renal tumors using a microwave tissue coagulator. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between April 1996 and January 2000, 34 patients underwent open partial nephrectomies in the Kobe City General Hospital. The microwave tissue coagulator was used for resection of the renal parenchyma, but in deeper lesions a sharp dissection was performed. Twenty-two patients (groups 1 and 2) underwent partial nephrectomy without vascular control (14 renal pedicles were not disturbed in group 1 patients, and 8 renal pedicles were dissected but not clamped in group 2 patients). Another 12 patients (group 3) underwent vascular control with ligation of the tumor-feeding segmental arteries before parenchymal resection. The patients of group 1 underwent wedge resections, while those of groups 2 and 3 underwent segmental or transverse partial nephrectomies. RESULTS: Complete tumor resection was done in all 34 patients. In group 1, the microwave tissue coagulator was very effective to control the blood loss (mean 330 ml). In larger resections, this method only was inadequate to control the blood loss (mean 489 ml in group 2), so that we needed vascular control. However, despite vascular control, mean blood losses of about 943 ml because of deeper venous bleeding occurred in group 3, and, moreover, postoperative renal infarctions occurred in 2 patients. Other complications were urinary fistula formation in 16 patients (47%) and renal pelvic stenoses in 2 patients (5.8%). All of the urinary fistulas were easily repaired by simple suturing intraoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: Especially in wedge resection, the microwave tissue coagulator achieved safe resection without vascular control which differs from other new techniques. However, in larger resections, a combination with other techniques may be necessary to decrease blood loss and the rate of complications.     

Non-ischemic partial nephrectomy using microwave tissue coagulator

PURPOSE: The indications and the safety of non-ischemic partial nephrectomy using a microwave tissue coagulator were studied. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Non-ischemic partial nephrectomy was performed on 17 kidneys of 16 patients using a microwave tissue coagulator. The diagnosis was renal tumor and renal stones in eleven and five patients, respectively. Renal tumors were less than 4 centimeters in diameter, while the stones were associated with a caliceal diverticulum or secondary cortical atrophy. Excision of the tumors was done via the retroperitoneal approach through an oblique lumbar incision. The needle of the microwave tissue coagulator was inserted around the tumor (stone) 10 to 20 times, and the coagulator was activated. Then the tumor (stone) was excised with a sharp knife or scissors. Patients were encouraged to walk on the first postoperative day. RESULTS: Vascular clamping was necessary in one patient to reduce bleeding. Nephrectomy was done after partial nephrectomy in one patient because it was difficult to close the urinary collecting system after it was widely exposed. Although urine leakage was seen postoperatively in two patients, it ceased spontaneously at 14 and 23 days after surgery. Postoperative complications developed in one of seven patients (14%) with protruding renal tumor, in three of five patients (60%) with non-protruding renal tumor and in two patients with renal stone. Allogenic or autologous blood transfusion was not necessary, nor was any bleeding noticed post-operatively. In one patient, atrophy of the renal parenchyma occurred gradually after surgery and function was eventually lost. However, renal function was well preserved and recurrence of the problem was not observed in the other 15 patients, excluding one who died of esophageal cancer. CONCLUSIONS: The microwave tissue coagulator is a useful surgical instrument for non-ischemic partial nephrectomy, not only in patients with renal tumors but also in patients with complicated kidney stones. However, non-protruding renal tumor in a patient with solitary kidney should be avoided for this surgery. Thermal injury to the renal parenchyma or large vessels should be avoided and urine leakage from the collecting system should be meticulously treated during the operation.     

Renal-tissue damage induced by laparoscopic partial nephrectomy using microwave tissue coagulator

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The microwave coagulator is a useful instrument that enables surgeons to perform partial nephrectomy without vascular clamping. The extent of postoperative thermal damage in surgically spared renal tissue has not been well examined. The present study was conducted to evaluate the tissue damage caused by microwave coagulation in laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN) for small renal tumors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seven cases of LPN with a microwave tissue coagulator were entered in the present study. The median tumor diameter was 1.5 cm, and the median size of the resected specimen was 2.2 cm. Postoperative tissue damage was evaluated by contrast-enhanced CT 1 month after surgery. Surgically spared renal-tissue volume and functioning renal-tissue volume were estimated from the images by NIH Image 1.62 software. RESULTS: Postoperative CT revealed unenhanced renal tissue adjacent to the surgical margin. The median estimated volumes of surgically spared and functioning renal tissue were 96.1% (range 74.3%-99.8%) and 88.4% (range 68.0%-92.7%) of preoperative normal renal tissue, respectively. The percentile volume of functioning to surgically spared renal tissue ranged from 89.9% to 96.0% (median 92.8%). CONCLUSIONS: The microwave coagulator enables us to carry out partial nephrectomy without vascular clamping. Although 96% of normal renal tissue was surgically spared, 4% to 10% of this tissue was nonfunctioning as a result of microwave-induced thermal damage.     

Retroperitoneal laparoscopic wedge resection for small renal tumor using microwave tissue coagulator

A patient with a small renal tumor underwent a successful retroperitoneal laparoscopic wedge resection using a microwave tissue coagulator without renal pedicle clamping or surface cooling. There were no postoperative complications, and renal function was well preserved. This minimally invasive procedure may be useful for treating small renal tumors.     

Partial nephrectomy using microwave tissue coagulator--application for laparoscopic operation

We report our clinical findings on 12 tumors (11 patients) successfully resected by partial nephrectomy with a microwave tissue coagulator (MTC) without renal pedicle clamping, including laparoscopic operation in 4 patients. All patients presented with a renal tumor detected incidentally by ultrasonography or computed tomography. The mean size of renal tumor was 1.9 (range 0.8-3.4) cm. Pathological diagnosis was renal cell carcinoma in 9 tumors and hemorrhagic cyst in 3 tumors. Mean operative time was 249 minutes. Mean blood loss was 183 ml in cases with a laparoscopic operation, that was statistically less than 486 ml in cases with an open operation (p<0.05), and 376 ml in all cases. There was no significant change in the creatinine clearance of cases with laparoscopic operation, compared with that of cases with an open operation. There were no other serious complications postoperatively. These findings suggested that partial nephrectomy with the MTC can be safely and successfully carried out while sparing renal function. Moreover, partial nephrectomy with the MTC for a laparoscopic operation may provide these patients with more benefits.     

Enucleation of renal tumor using a microwave tissue coagulator]

We report our clinical findings on 7 tumors in 5 patients who underwent successful enucleation of renal tumor with a microwave tissue coagulator. All patients presented with incidentally-found renal tumor on ultrasonography or computed tomography. One patient had bilateral renal tumors. The mean size of the renal tumor was 2.5 cm (Range 1.0-5.2 cm). One patient had a tumor larger than 5 cm, and was found to have renal insufficiency preoperatively. Four cases were clinically diagnosed as T1aN0M0. In all patients, the renal tumor was enucleated with a microwave tissue coagulator successfully without renal pedicle clamping. The mean operative time and blood loss were 241 minutes and 788 ml, respectively. The pathological diagnosis was renal cell carcinoma in all cases. Although 2 patients had preoperative renal insufficiency, there were no serious postoperative complications and no evidence of loss of renal function as a result of this operation. Our findings suggest that renal tumors can be enucleated with a microwave tissue coagulator safely and successfully without damaging renal function.     

Laparoscopic total and partial nephrectomy

Laparoscopic radical nephrectomy has established its role as a standard of care for the management of renal neoplasms. Long term follow-up has demonstrated laparoscopic radical nephrectomy has shorter patient hospitalization and effective cancer control, with no significant difference in survival compared with open radical nephrectomy. For renal masses less than 4cm, partial nephrectomy is indicated for patients with a solitary kidney or who demonstrate impairment of contralateral renal function. The major technical issue for success of laparoscopic partial nephrectomy is bleeding control and several techniques have been developed to achieve better hemostatic control. Development of new laparoscopic techniques for partial nephrectomy can be divided into 2 categories: hilar control and warm ischemia vs. no hilar control. Development of a laparoscopic Satinsky clamp has achieved en bloc control of the renal hilum in order to allow cold knife excision of the mass, with laparoscopic repair of the collecting system, if needed. Combination of laparoscopic partial nephrectomy with ablative techniques has achieved successful excision of renal masses with adequate hemostasis without hilar clamping. Other techniques without hilar control have been investigated and included the use of a microwave tissue coagulator. In conclusion, laparoscopic radical nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma has clearly demonstrated low morbidity and equivalent cancer control. The rates for local recurrences and metastatic spread are low and actuarial survival high. Furthermore, laparoscopic partial nephrectomy has demonstrated to be technically feasible, with low morbidity. With short term outcomes demonstrating laparoscopic partial nephrectomy as an efficacious procedure, the role of laparoscopic partial nephrectomy should continue to increase.     

Partial nephrectomy using a microwave tissue coagulator for bilateral renal cell carcinomas: a case report

We report a case of bilateral renal cell carcinomas in a 56-year-old male treated by partial nephrectomy at the same time using a microwave tissue coagulator technique. The patient did not need dialysis after the operation because we did not need to sacrifice the artery feeding to normal renal tissue during the operation. This technique has advantages of nephron sparing without occlusion of the renal artery, and decreased operation time and blood loss.     

Partial nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma using a microwave tissue coagulator--postoperative recurrence and renal function

Nowadays, partial nephrectomy is often selected for treatment of small renal cell carcinoma (RCC) because T1a RCC shows a favorable prognosis with a 5-year overall-survival rate exceeding 90%. To determine the methodological usefulness and treatment outcome of partial nephrectomy using microwave tissue coagulator (MTC), we evaluated our series of 121 patients (124 kidneys) with T1 RCC who underwent this procedure. Ninety-nine patients were elective and 22 patients were imperative cases. This procedure was indicated for asymptomatic solitary RCC; < or =4 cm in diameter in elective cases or < or =5 cm in imperative cases, expanding outward with a clear capsule, and showing neither renal pelvis nor renal sinus invasion. The median operation time was 150 minutes and the median blood loss was 217 ml. Eight patients needed transfusion, and conservative therapy cured 4 patients of postoperative urine leakage successfully. Three patients underwent early secondary nephrectomy due to multiple RCCs, invasive spindle cell carcinoma, or prolongation of urine leakage. No significant deterioration of renal function by creatinine clearance (Ccr) was observed, and postoperative Ccr could be precisely predicted from preoperative serum creatinine value and the renal parenchymal volume estimated with 3-dimensinal image reconstruction. Five-year overall-survival rate was 91% at the mean follow-up of up to 37.9 months and 107 patients were alive without disease. One patient showed local recurrence 2 years later and underwent radical nephrectomy. We believe that non-ischemic partial nephrectmy using MTC is a simple and reliable nephron-sparing surgery for small RCC in respect of postoperative recurrence and preservation of renal function.     

Retroperitoneoscopic partial nephrectomy by using microwave tissue coagulation

Partial nephrectomy is widely accepted as a treatment for small renal cell carcinoma. However, the laparoscopic approach has not yet been considered as a standard procedure. We reviewed our 13 retroperitoneoscopic partial nephrectomies and 11 conventional open partial nephrectomies. We have used microwave tissue coagulation for retroperitoneoscopic surgery without renal pedicle clamping between December 1999 and May 2003. The mean operating time for the retroperitoneoscopic group was not significantly longer than that for conventional open surgery group (183 minutes vs 194 minutes). However, the mean blood loss for the retroperitoneoscopic group was less than that for the open group (143 ml vs 512 ml). Histologic evaluation revealed renal cell carcinoma in 10 patients, angiomyolipoma in 2 patients, and lymphoangiomyomatosis in one patient for retroperitoneoscopic group and renal cell carcinoma in 11 patients for the conventional open surgery group. In addition, when compared with the historical control that had undergone conventional partial nephrectomy, laparoscopic cases had significantly shorter postoperative times to oral intake, ambulance, and discharge from hospital. Bowel injury, massive bleeding, urine leakage, and atelectasis occurred in one case each in retroperitoneoscopic surgery. Retroperitoneoscopic surgery in the case of massive bleeding was converted to open surgery. On the other hand, urine leakage and postoperative hemorrhage occurred in one case each in conventional open surgery. Retroperitoneoscopic partial nephrectomy by using microwave tissue coagulation is a useful and less invasive method, whereas this procedure is more challenging than open partial nephrectomy in terms of complications.     

后腹腔镜保留肾单位的肾部分切除术治疗T1期肾肿瘤（附22例报道）

目的探讨后腹腔镜保留肾单位的肾部分切除术治疗T1期肾肿瘤的手术方法及临床疗效。方法回顾性分析22例行后腹腔镜保留肾单位的肾部分切除术的T1期肾肿瘤患者的临床资料,其中男8例,女14例,平均年龄48岁。双侧肾肿瘤1例,单侧双瘤灶1例;左侧13例,右侧10例。肿瘤平均直径3cm。所有患者均行后腹腔镜保留肾单位的肾部分切除术。结果 22例手术均顺利完成。平均手术时间135min,平均肾动脉阻断时间29min,平均出血量55ml,平均住院时间10d。术中未见外科并发症,术后仅1例发生漏尿。术中切缘组织病理均阴性。24个瘤灶术后病理证实为肾透明细胞癌19例、多房囊性肾细胞癌2例、肾嗜酸细胞瘤2例、肾嫌色细胞腺癌1例。随访时间1～28个月,平均10个月,肿瘤无局部复发及远处转移。结论后腹腔镜保留肾单位的肾部分切除术治疗T1期肾肿瘤安全、可行,其远期疗效尚待长期随访。     

Hand-assisted laparoscopic partial nephrectomy without hilar vascular clamping using a saline-cooled, high-density monopolar radiofrequency device

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Nephron-sparing surgery is now accepted as an alternative treatment option for small renal tumors. However, hemostasis during laparoscopic partial nephrectomy can be technically challenging, especially without hilar vascular clamping. The aim of our study was to evaluate the technique of hand-assisted laparoscopic partial nephrectomy using the TissueLink (TissueLink Medical, Dover, NH), a saline-cooled monopolar radiofrequency device, without hilar vascular clamping. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Using the hand-assisted laparoscopic approach, the kidney is mobilized transperitoneally, and the renal tumor with overlying perinephric fat is exposed. The tumor is excised with a 1-cm margin using a combination of the TissueLink device and endoscopic scissors. The tumor and a biopsy of the base of the tumor bed are sent for frozen-section examination. The bleeding vessels are controlled with digital compression and the TissueLink device. At the end of procedure, the tumor bed is covered with a hemostatic agent. Three female and four male patients ages 52 to 76 years (mean 66 years) were treated with this new device for incidental tumors detected during imaging studies (N = 6) or during work-up for gross hematuria (N = 1). Preoperative imaging studies included CT in six patients and MRI in three. The average tumor size was 2.2 cm (range 1.3-3 cm). Only peripheral tumors that did not approach the hilum or the collecting system were selected. RESULTS: All of the patients underwent a hand-assisted laparoscopic partial nephrectomy using the TissueLink device without hilar vascular clamping. There were no intraoperative complications or conversions to open surgery. The mean operative time was 175 minutes, with an estimated blood loss of 186 mL (range 100-300 mL). Histologic examination demonstrated renal-cell carcinoma in five cases, oncocytoma in one, and an angiomyolipoma in one. The dimensions of the normal tissue around the tumor ranged from 1 to 4 mm, and frozen-section analysis showed tumor-free margins in all cases. Postoperatively, all patients recovered well except one patient who developed transient atrial fibrillation, which was treated medically in the immediate postoperative period. All patients were discharged in good condition at an average of 3 days (range 2-6 days). CONCLUSION: Hand-assisted laparoscopic partial nephrectomy without vascular clamping using the TissueLink device is a safe and feasible technique for exclusion of small exophytic renal tissues.     

Enucleation of renal cell carcinoma in von Hippel-Lindau disease using a microwave tissue coagulator

The patient was a 37-year-old man who had undergone left nephrectomy under the diagnosis of left renal cell carcinoma associated with von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease 4 years ago. Computed tomography (CT) revealed 3 individual tumors 20 mm, 13 mm and 9 mm in maximum diameter in the right kidney. All three renal tumors were enucleated with a microwave tissue coagulator (MTC) without renal pedicle clamping. There were no major complications related to nephron-sparing surgery such as postoperative bleeding, persistent urine leakage and deterioration of renal function. Our findings suggest that renal tumors with VHL disease can be enucleated using a MTC safely and successfully without damaging renal function.     

Comparison of 1,800 laparoscopic and open partial nephrectomies for single renal tumors

PURPOSE: Laparoscopic partial nephrectomy is an increasingly performed, minimally invasive alternative to open partial nephrectomy. We compared early postoperative outcomes in 1,800 patients undergoing open partial nephrectomy by experienced surgeons with the initial experience with laparoscopic partial nephrectomy in patients with a single renal tumor 7 cm or less. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data on 1,800 consecutive open or laparoscopic partial nephrectomies were collected prospectively or retrospectively in tumor registries at 3 large referral centers. Demographic, intraoperative, postoperative and followup data were compared between the 2 groups. RESULTS: Compared to the laparoscopic partial nephrectomy group of 771 patients the 1,028 undergoing open partial nephrectomy were a higher risk group with a greater percent presenting symptomatically with decreased performance status, impaired renal function and tumor in a solitary functioning kidney (p<0.0001). More tumors in the open partial nephrectomy group were more than 4 cm and centrally located and more proved to be malignant (p<0.0001 and 0.0003, respectively). Based on multivariate analysis laparoscopic partial nephrectomy was associated with shorter operative time (p<0.0001), decreased operative blood loss (p<0.0001) and shorter hospital stay (p<0.0001). The chance of intraoperative complications was comparable in the 2 groups. However, laparoscopic partial nephrectomy was associated with longer ischemia time (p<0.0001), more postoperative complications, particularly urological (p<0.0001), and an increased number of subsequent procedures (p<0.0001). Renal functional outcomes were similar 3 months after laparoscopic and open partial nephrectomy with 97.9% and 99.6% of renal units retaining function, respectively. Three-year cancer specific survival for patients with a single cT1N0M0 renal cell carcinoma was 99.3% and 99.2% after laparoscopic and open partial nephrectomy, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Early experience with laparoscopic partial nephrectomy is promising. Laparoscopic partial nephrectomy offered the advantages of less operative time, decreased operative blood loss and a shorter hospital stay. When applied to patients with a single renal tumor 7 cm or less, laparoscopic partial nephrectomy was associated with additional postoperative morbidity compared to open partial nephrectomy. However, equivalent functional and early oncological outcomes were achieved.     

Laparoscopic nephron-sparing surgery for the small exophytic renal mass.

OBJECTIVES: Nephron-sparing surgery has emerged as the treatment of choice for the incidentally detected small renal mass, especially those less than 4 cm in size. We describe our technique and experience with the laparoscopic excision of these lesions. METHODS: Between June 2001 and October 2003, 20 patients underwent nephron-sparing surgery at our institution. Twenty-one laparoscopic partial nephrectomy procedures were performed. All tumors were detected incidentally by cross-sectional imaging. All patients had a solid renal mass or a complex cystic renal mass of Bosniak category III or greater. All solid tumors were exophytic and less than 4cm in diameter. Both transperitoneal and retroperitoneal approaches were used. Hemostasis was achieved without hilar control in 20 of the 21 cases. RESULTS: Twenty renal units were approached transperitoneally, and 1 retroperitoneally. Mean tumor size was 2.6 cm (range, 1.2 to 4). Mean estimated blood loss was 211 mL (range, 50 to 500), and mean operative time was 165 minutes. Pathology revealed renal cell carcinoma in 14 (70%). No intraoperative complications occurred. Two patients required blood transfusions postoperatively. CONCLUSION: Carefully selected patients with small, exophytic renal masses can safely undergo laparoscopic excision. When achievable, this procedure can be a more logical alternative to ablative techniques for the minimally invasive management of such lesions.     

Laparoscopic partial nephrectomy: the European experience.

Laparoscopic partial nephrectomy is technically difficult but oncologically effective. The operation should be performed in centers with expertise. Hemostasis can be achieved using bipolar coagulation and fibrin glue-coated cellulose. Further studies will determine whether less invasive alternatives (focused ultrasound, cryotherapy) will meet the high standard of open (or laparoscopic) nephron-sparing surgery for small renal cell carcinoma.CommentaryThe technique of laparoscopic partial nephrectomy for the treatment of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is in its very early stages. The cumulative experience reported in the literature comprises fewer than 100 cases and these have been confounded by a lack of standardized technique and variable experience. There has been difficulty in reproducing the essential elements of open partial nephrectomy using contemporary laparoscopic instrumentation. In this large multicenter European study, hemostasis was achieved with bipolar coagulation and fibrin-coated cellulose. Notwithstanding that case selection was limited to very small (≤3 cm) peripheral renal tumors, the morbidity of partial nephrectomy in this study was greater than that of open partial nephrectomy for small peripheral tumors.At the Cleveland Clinic, we have recently developed a technique for laparoscopic partial nephrectomy which duplicates established open surgical principles. The key technical steps in this approach include:Since August 1999, this technique has been used to perform laparoscopic partial nephrectomy in 36 patients with small, exophytic renal tumors. Mean tumor size was 2.9 cm (range 1.4–7.0 cm). The operation was successful in all cases without any open conversions. Mean operative time was 2.9 h, warm ischemia time was 20 min and blood loss was 237 ml. Formal calyceal suture repair was performed in 7 patients. Mean hospital stay was 1.7 days. The final pathology revealed renal cell carcinoma in 20 patients and other tumors in the remainder. All margins of resection were negative for tumor.Our initial experience suggests that laparoscopic partial nephrectomy can be performed for small exophytic renal tumors with adherence to established principles and techniques of the open surgical approach and with significant benefits for the patient.Andrew C. Novick, M.D.