Laparoscopic Partial Nephrectomy for the 4cm or Less Renal Tumors

Purpose: The popularity of a partial nephrectomy has grown as a consequence of the increased detection of small incidental renal masses. Herein, our experience of laparoscopic partial nephrectomies is reported. Materials and Methods: Between December 2003 and April 2006, 27 cases underwent a laparoscopic partial nephrectomy for renal tumors up to 4cm in diameter. The tumors, and an approximate 0.5cm margin around the tumors, were resected with cold scissors. Hemostasis was achieved with freehand suturing of the pelvocalyceal system and renal parenchyme, over the surgical bolster, using fibrin glue. Results: Transperitoneal and retroperitoneal approaches were chosen in 14 and 13 cases, respectively. Hilar clamping of small exophytic tumors was performed in all but 3 cases, with minimal parenchymal invasion. The mean renal tumor size was 2.5cm (ranging from 1 to 4cm). The mean operative and warm ischemia times, and blood loss were 193 minutes (ranging from 115 to 300) and 27.8 minutes (ranging from 15 to 43), and 493ml (ranging from 32 to 1,248), respectively. The mean hospitalization stay was 5.2 days (ranging from 3 to 8 days). Conversion to a laparoscopic radical nephrectomy was required in one case due to a positive frozen biopsy of the resection bed. There were no perioperative complications or open conversions. Histological examinations yielded a renal cell carcinoma in 20 cases, an angiomyolipoma or oncocytoma in 2 cases each, a lipoma in 1 and a leiomyosarcom in 2 cases, two of which had positive margins. One patient underwent selective angioembolization for an asymptomatic renal artery pseudoaneurysm three months postoperatively. All patients were alive, without any local recurrence or metastatic disease, at a mean follow up of 11.4 months (ranging from 3 to 24 months). Conclusions: A laparoscopic partial nephrectomy can be performed safely. However, long-term follow-up is required to compare its cancer control with that of an open partial nephrectomy. (Korean J Urol 2006;47:1256-1262) ꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏꠏ