Initial Experience of Retroperitoneoscopic Surgery

Lee, Kyeong Cheol; Kim, Hyeon Hoe

Abstract

PURPOSE: We tried to evaluate the safety, feasibility and the clinical usefulness of the retroperitoneoscopic surgery for the treatment of variable renal diseases.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Between June 1998 and March 1999, a total of 18 patients (9 nonfunctioning kidneys, 1 ureter tumor, 3 simple renal cysts, 1 polycystic kidney, 3 ureter stones, 1 UPJ obstruction) underwent retroperitoneoscopic surgery (9 nephrectomies, 1 nephroureterectomy, 4 cyst marsupialization, 3 ureterolithotomy, 1 pyeloplasty) in our hospital. We analyzed the results of each operations.
RESULTS
Out of total 18 cases, 15 retroperitoneoscopic surgeries were performed successfully as planed. Mean operative time was 194 minutes(ranged from 100 to 355 minutes) and mean postoperative hospital stay was 4.1 days(2-7 days). There was no significant intraoperative or postoperative complication in successfully completed cases. Open conversion was needed in three patients, all of them were not in an emergent condition, and there was no significant complication. Transfusion was not required in all cases.
CONCLUSIONS
Retroperitoneoscopic surgery is a safe and feasible procedure for benign renal diseases, and there seems to be enough rooms for malignant diseases also.