LigaSure in Laparoscopic Transperitoneal Heminephroureterectomy in Children: A Comparative Study

Background: This study was conducted to evaluate the feasibility of using the LigaSure vessel sealing system (Valleylab, Boulder, CO) in laparoscopic transperitoneal vs. open retroperitoneal heminephroureterectomy in children. Materials and Methods: Seven consecutive patients with impaired renal duplex systems underwent laparoscopic heminephroureterectomies using LigaSure between April 2003 and April 2005. The operative time, complications, and hospital stay were analyzed prospectively. The data of 7 consecutive patients who had undergone open retroperitoneal heminephroureterectomy from 2001 to 2003 were analyzed for comparison purposes. The mean ages, underlying disease, and location of the affected kidney pole were not significantly different between these groups. Results: There were no intraoperative complications during laparoscopic heminephroureterectomy and all procedures were completed laparoscopically. The mean operative time of 144 minutes (range, 90–210 minutes) for laparoscopic heminephroureter...