Laparoscopic nephrectomy with single-portal access Gelpoint®in swines.

PURPOSE To analyze the viability of using Gelpoint® (single-port access) to make partial and total nephrectomy in pigs and to describe the technical difficulties found during these surgical procedures. METHODS Ten pigs (Landrace specie) with 20 kg in average were distributed in two groups. Group A: total right nephrectomy and Group B: partial left nephrectomy. The procedures were performed inside the Surgical Technique Room from Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Parana (PUCPR). RESULTS In Group A, time to single-port insertion varied from one to two minutes and total time of the procedures were 20.4 ± 8.2 minutes. Bleeding was under than 20 mL in 70% of animals. Time of instrument excision was 20.7 ± 12 seconds and time of hilum dissection was 3.9 ± 2.2 minutes. In Group B, after total contralateral nephrectomy two surgical procedures were not concluded due to bleeding. In this group, time of surgery was 6.8 ± 4.2 minutes. With the exception of the second surgery, the highest blood volume loss was 50 mL. The mean excision time was 22.3 ± 22.3 seconds. CONCLUSION Total and partial nephrectomy through umbilical single-access using GelPoint® was feasible and safe in pigs.