Comparison of Retroperitoneoscopic Nephrectomy with Open Nephrectomy

Chung, Chee Youn; Kim, Chul Sung; Jang, Dae Soo

Abstract

PURPOSE: We present our experience of a retroperitoneoscopic nephrectomy for a benign renal disease, and evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of a retroperitoneoscopic nephrectomy.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The clinical results of 20 retroperitoneoscopic nephrectomies (RN) were compared with 20 open nephrectomies (ON). The surgery time, hospital stay, analgesic requirements, and complications were analysed.
RESULTS
The mean operative time was 255.2 +/- 72.5 minutes for the RN patients and 161.1 +/- 22.7 minutes for the ON patients (p< 0.05). The mean hospital stay was 4.2 +/- 1.1 days for the RN patients and 9.0 +/- 1.1 days for the ON patients (p< 0.05). The analgesic dose was 80.0 +/- 23.4mg of piroxicam for RN and 240.0 +/- 26.8mg of piroxicam for the ON patients (p< 0.05). Minor and major complications occurred in 4 (20%) patients who underwent a RN and 12 (60%) patients who underwent an ON (p< 0.05). Of the 23 retoroperitoneoscopic nephrectomies, an open conversion was necessary in 3 (13%) patients.
CONCLUSIONS
While operative time is longer in RN patients than ON patients, the postoperative hospital stay, analgesic requirement and complication rate are significantly lower than in ON patients. Retroperitoneoscopic nephrectomy appears to be a safe and effective alternative to a traditional open nephrectomy.