The Early Experience of Retroperitoneoscopic Nephroureterectomy for Upper Urinary Tract Transitional Cell Carcinomas

Jeong, Yong Rae; Park, Hae Young; Lee, Tchun Yong

Abstract

PURPOSE: Retroperitoneoscopic nephroureterectomy (RNUx), with a bladder cuff excision, has only recently been used to treat patients with upper tract transitional cell carcinomas. We retrospectively evaluated our early experiences, and compared our results to those of a contemporary series of open nephroureterectomies (ONUx), in upper tract transitional cell carcinomas.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We reviewed the records of 7 patients who had undergone a RNUx, with a bladder cuff excision, for a suspicious upper tract transitional cell carcinoma, and 7 who had undergone an ONUx, with a bladder cuff excision.
RESULTS
Comparing the results of the RNUx (7 patients) to the ONUx (7 patients) over the same period, we found no significant differences in the body mass index (25.1 versus 25.5kg/m2, p=0.22), specimen weights (155 versus 175gm, p=0.59) and operating time (266 versus 244 min., p=0.20). The RNUx group had significantly reduced estimated blood losses (350 versus 543mL, p=0.01), pain medication requirements (141 versus 232mg, p=0.03) and times to ambulate (21 versus 31 hours, p<0.01).
CONCLUSIONS
Our early experiences show that RNUx takes a longer operation time, and is a harder operation compared to ONUx, but it is well tolerated by patients because we can remove the kidney and ureter from a smaller lower abdominal incision. With increased experience, the operating time decreased compared to an ONUx. Thus, a RNUx may be a viable alternative for managing localized transitional cell carcinomas of the upper urinary tract.