Laparoscopic radical nephrectomy

Safety and oncological outcomes for large (stage ≥T2b) and locally advanced renal cell carcinoma: comparison between laparoscopic and modified hand-assisted laparoscopic radical nephrectomy

Objective

To compare the operative and oncologic outcomes between hand-assisted laparoscopic radical nephrectomy (HALRN) and laparoscopic radical nephrectomy (LRN) for large (stage ≥T2b) and locally advanced renal cell carcinoma.

Methods

We retrospectively collected data from patients who underwent HALRN or LRN for stage ≥T2b renal cell carcinoma from January 2011 to January 2018 in our institution. The patients’ demographics, perioperative parameters, and postoperative follow-up data were compared between the two groups. The survival outcome was estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method.

Results

The HALRN group comprised 78 patients, and the LRN group comprised 63 patients. The median operative duration was significantly shorter in the HALRN than LRN group. The two groups were equivalent in terms of the incision length, blood loss, complication rate, and duration of hospitalization. In the HALRN and LRN groups, the 5-year overall survival rates were 69.4% and 73.1%, the 5-year cancer-specific survival rates were 80.0% and 83.3%, and the 5-year progression-free survival rates were 66.4% and 74.7%, respectively, with no significant differences.

Conclusions

Compared with LRN, HALRN may offer a shorter operative duration and equivalent surgical outcomes without sacrificing oncological efficacy. In addition, HALRN has specific advantages for extremely large and complicated renal tumors.

Prospective non-randomized evaluation of four mediators of the systemic response after extraperitoneal laparoscopic and open retropubic radical prostatectomy

OBJECTIVE

To report a prospective, controlled, non-randomized patient study to determine the systemic response to extraperitoneal laparoscopic (eLRP) and open retropubic radical prostatectomy (RRP).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In all, 403 patients who had eLRP (163) or open RRP (240) were recruited; patients in both groups had similar preoperative staging. In addition to peri-operative variables (operative duration, complications, blood loss, transfusion rate, hospitalization, catheterization), oncological data (Gleason score, pathological stage, positive margins) were also compared. The extent of the systemic response to surgery-induced tissue trauma was measured in all patients, by assessing the levels of acute-phase markers C-reactive protein (CRP), serum amyloid A (SAA), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-10 before, during and after RP.

RESULTS

The duration of surgery, transfusion rate, hospital stay and duration of catheterization were comparable with those in previous studies. There was an increase in IL-6, CRP and SAA but no change in IL-10, and no differences between eLRP and RRP over the entire period assessed.

CONCLUSION

The invasiveness of eLRP could not be substantiated objectively based on the variables measured in this study. The surgical trauma and associated invasiveness of both methods were equivalent.

Left laparoscopic radical nephrectomy with direct access to the renal artery: technical advantages

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the technical advantages of early ligature of the renal artery at the level of the Treitz ligament during left laparoscopic radical nephrectomy (LRN).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Twenty-six patients underwent LRN for organ-confined lesions. We grouped measured parameters (see Results) on the basis of the first 13 and last 13 patients, and compared both subgroups. All parameters were correlated to stage of disease (pT1 vs pT2-3). The Student t test was used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS

The mean (range) for measured parameters are as follows: age: 56.5 +/- 11.6 (41-77) years; American Society of Anesthesiologists score: 2.4 +/- 1 (1-3); body mass index: 23.4 +/- 3.4 (21.1-33); lesion size at computed tomography: (6.2 +/- 2.4 (4-12) cm; operative skin to skin time: 130 +/- 20 (125-170) minutes; blood loss: 255 +/- 120 (100-800) ml; hospital stay: 6.5 +/- 2.0 (4-15) days; analgesic consumption (Tramadol 100 mg): 2.5 +/- 1 (2-4) vials; follow-up time: 30.5 +/- 5.6 (3-48) months. No intra-operative complications occurred. Pathologic analysis showed 12 pT1N0, five pT2N0, eight pT3aN0 and one pT3b N2 with mean lesion size of 6.2 +/- 1.6 (4-13) cm. Mean number of removed lymph nodes was 9.8 +/- 1.6 (7-17). No statistical difference was observed between the two subgroups (p > 0.05), and between pT1 and pT2-3 stage (p > 0.05) groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Early ligature using direct access to the renal artery at the Treitz ligament permits the surgeon to follow the classic steps and principles of radical nephrectomy.

Direct Access to the Renal Artery at the Level of Treitz Ligament during Left Radical Laparoscopic Transperitoneal Nephrectomy

PURPOSE

To describe and demonstrate the feasibility of early ligature of the renal artery using a direct access to the renal pedicle at the level of the Treitz ligament during left transperitoneal radical laparoscopic nephrectomy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 42 patient underwent left transperitoneal radical laparoscopic nephrectomies from February 2001 to July 2004. In the first consecutive 27 patients (Group A) we performed early ligature with the standard technique; in the last consecutive 15 patients (Group B) we attempted the early ligature with direct access to the renal artery at the level of the Treitz ligament. Comparative analysis was carried out between the two groups examining operative times, blood loss, intra and post operative complications, postoperative stay.

RESULTS

No difference was noted in gender, age and size of the lesions (6.2 versus 6.25 cm respectively, p = 0.9) in the two groups. In 12/15 (80%) of Group B cases we successfully identified and ligated the renal artery at the level of the Treitz ligament. In the other 3 cases (20%) we were constrained to revert to the more common laparoscopic approach. Mean Operative times were 131' in group A versus 137' in group B (p = 0.15). The time required to find the renal artery at the level of Treitz ligament in group B was 16' (15'-30'). No differences were noted between the two groups in terms of blood loss (222 cc versus 268 ml, p = 0.4), intraoperative and postoperative complications (p = 0.6), postoperative stay (5 days in the two groups, p = 0.9). Mean follow-up was average 24 months (15-48) in Group A and average 7 months (3-12) in Group B. No complications and no recurrence of disease at CT evaluation were recorded neither in Group A nor in Group B.

CONCLUSIONS

Radical laparoscopic left side nephrectomy with direct access to the renal artery at the level the Treitz ligament is technically feasible and safe and reproduces the classic principles of radical nephrectomy allowing to perform the procedure without any manipulation of the tumor.

Early Ligature of Renal Artery during Radical Laparoscopic Transperitoneal Nephrectomy: Description of Standard Technique and Direct Access

PURPOSE

We compared two techniques of early ligature of the renal artery during transperitoneal laparoscopic radical nephrectomy: a standard technique and a direct approach to the artery.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Of 100 patients undergoing transperitoneal laparoscopic radical nephrectomy at our institution, in the last 70, we used early renal-artery ligature. Of these, the standard technique after exposure of the vascular pedicle was used in 45 patients (group A), and ligature with a direct access to the renal artery was attempted in 25 patients (group B).

RESULTS

No statistical differences were noted between the two groups in terms of age, lesion size, operative time, estimated blood loss, or intraoperative and postoperative complications. There were no recurrences of disease by CT evaluation in either group during follow-up (range 1-46 months).

CONCLUSIONS

Transperitoneal laparoscopic radical nephrectomy with direct access to renal artery for early ligature is technically difficult but feasible and safe.

Laparoscopic nephrectomy: the new gold standard?

Laparoscopic nephrectomy has lesser blood loss, quicker recovery and return to work, shorter hospital stay, lesser post operative pain and analgesia requirement associated with it compared to open nephrectomy along with having oncological equivalence to open nephrectomy for T1, T2 renal tumours and for level 1 renal vein invasion by tumour thrombus. It has assumed the status of the New Gold Standard.

Single-center comparison of purely laparoscopic, hand-assisted laparoscopic, and open radical nephrectomy in patients at high anesthetic risk

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The laparoscopic approach for management of high-risk patients with renal-cell carcinoma (RCC) may reduce perioperative and postoperative morbidity. The aim of this study was to compare the outcome of purely laparoscopic radical nephrectomy (LRN), hand-assisted laparoscopic radical nephrectomy (HALRN), and open radical nephrectomy (ORN) for renal tumors in a population of patients at high risk for perioperative complications.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

All patients undergoing radical nephrectomy for presumed RCC between August 1999 and August 2001 at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and having an American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score of >/=3 were reviewed. Patients with known metastasis, local invasion, caval thrombi, or additional simultaneous surgical procedures were excluded from analysis. Thirteen patients underwent LRN, eight patients underwent HALRN, and 26 underwent ORN. The patient demographics were similar in the three groups. The groups were compared with regard to intraoperative and postoperative parameters. Statistical analysis was done using chi-square testing for categorical variables and analysis of variance (ANOVA) for continuous variables. Differences in outcomes were examined using ANOVA and Dunnett's T for pairwise comparisons.

RESULTS

The ASA 4 patients had significantly longer hospital stays and total hospital costs than the ASA 3 patients. The mean operative time in the ASA 3 patients was similar in the three groups: 2.8 hours, 2.8 hours, and 2.5 hours for the LRN, HALRN, and ORN patients, respectively. Both the LRN patients (22.9 mg of morphine sulfate equivalent) and the HALRN patients (42.1 mg) required less pain medication than the open surgery patients (97.7 mg). When the total hospital costs were compared, LRN was less costly than HALRN ($6089 v $7678; P = 0.57) and open surgery ($6089 v $7694; P = 0.04). The complication rate in the LRN, HALRN, and ORN group was 0%, 25%, and 27%, respectively, although the differences were not statistically different (P = 0.12).

CONCLUSIONS

Both LRN and HALRN can be performed safely in patients with significant comorbid conditions. Careful preoperative preparation, intraoperative monitoring, and awareness of laparoscopy-induced oliguria can preclude inadvertent overhydration, hemodilution, and congestive heart failure. Both LRN and HALRN result in less pain medication requirement and faster return to oral intake than ORN, and LRN results in fewer perioperative complications than HALRN or ORN in patients at high perioperative risk. The LRN technique has a 21% lower total cost than both HALRN and ORN.

Laparoscopic and renal sparing approaches to tumours of the ureter and kidney

Until recently, malignancies of the kidney and ureter were managed with open radical surgery. Over the last decade the urologic community has adopted the skill of laparoscopic surgery for the treatment of these tumours. Parenchymal sparing procedures have become the standard of care in the treatment of selected patients with renal and ureteral tumours and many of these surgical procedures can be performed laparoscopically or ureteroscopically. Due partly to necessity and partly to the advancement of technology, renal and ureteral sparing procedures have become commonplace for definitive treatment and palliation of these tumours. The morbidity of such procedures is significantly less than for open surgery and the future of urologic minimally invasive surgery appears secure. This review article is aimed at updating the reader in the most recent advances in these techniques.

Laparoscopic radical nephrectomy for advanced kidney cancer

The management of advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC) continues to evolve. With the advent of laparoscopic radical nephrectomy (LRN), minimally invasive approaches to kidney cancer have developed. Laparoscopic resection of locally advanced RCC yields a similar cancer-control rate with the advantage of decreased morbidity. Although cytoreductive LRN is a technically challenging procedure, it may be completed safely in selected patients. Further prospective study of the role of LRN for advanced RCC is warranted.