Purpose: To describe, define, and evaluate the efficacy of retroperitoneoscopic nephrectomy (RPN) for benign diseases of the kidney and to compare it with open surgical nephrectomy (OSN) via a flank approach.
Patients and methods: From August 1995 to November 1997, 29 men and 14 women (mean age 33 years) with severely damaged kidneys underwent RPN. Among these, 11 patients had undergone prior surgery, 3 had chronic renal failure, and 8 patients had a percutaneous nephrostomy. The RPN was performed via three or four ports, with the kidneys being removed intact from the retroperitoneal working space. During the same period, 43 patients underwent OSN through a flank approach (extrapleural and extraperitoneal) for nonfunctioning or poorly functioning kidneys.
Results: In the RPN group, two patients required conversion to OSN. The operative time and estimated blood loss ranged from 40 to 210 minutes (mean 114 minutes) and 50 to 450 mL (mean 127 mL), respectively. In the OSN group, the corresponding values were 60 to 100 minutes (mean 104 minutes) and 70 to 600 mL (mean 266 mL), respectively. The mean length of hospitalization after RPN was considerably shorter--2 to 7 days (mean 3.4 days)--than after conventional open surgery--4 to 16 days (mean 8.6 days). The incidences of minor and major complications were 21% and 5%, respectively, in the RPN group and 33% and 2% in the OSN group. The postoperative analgesic requirement was significantly less (P < 0.001) in RPN group. The interval to return to normal activity ranged from 7 to 30 days (mean 20.3 days) and 20 to 60 days (mean 32.9 days) in the RPN and OSN group, respectively, with superior performance status, cosmesis, and quality of life observed in the former group.
Conclusion: Retroperitoneoscopic nephrectomy is as effective as open nephrectomy for benign kidney diseases with less postoperative pain, a shorter hospital stay, earlier recuperation, and excellent cosmesis. This procedure can also be performed in patients who have undergone abdominal operations previously, in those with chronic renal failure, and in those with a percutaneous nephrostomy. The operation has become our first line of approach for benign diseases of the kidney.