Transperitoneal laparoscopic heminephrectomy in duplex kidney: our initial experience

Objectives: To study the feasibility, safety, and effect of transperitoneal laparoscopic heminephrectomy in the duplex kidney.

Methods: From December 2003 to January 2008, 18 patients with urinary tract duplex anomalies underwent laparoscopic heminephrectomy using a transperitoneal approach. The sites of surgery consisted of 6 right upper, 2 right lower, 9 left upper, and 1 left lower heminephrectomy. Follow-up studies were performed using renal ultrasonography in all patients.

Results: All patients underwent laparoscopic surgery successfully without conversion to open surgery or intraoperative complications. The mean operative time was 142.8 minutes (range 90-195). The mean estimated blood loss was 196.1 mL (range 20-600), and the mean hospital stay was 6.1 days (range 4-10). In 1 patient, a minor postoperative urine leak resolved spontaneously with prolonged catheter drainage. The radiologic assessment showed normal ipsilateral renal growth in 18 patients at a mean follow-up of 25.8 months.

Conclusions: Our initial clinical experience suggests that laparoscopic heminephrectomy using a transperitoneal approach for the duplex kidney is feasible, safe, and effective. Therefore, the transperitoneal approach for moiety excision, which offers a technically simple approach for complete ureterectomy, is recommended.