Intraoperative Conversion From Partial to Radical Nephrectomy at a Single Institution From 2003 to 2008

Purpose: Little information exists on conversion from partial to radical nephrectomy. We assessed the intraoperative reasons and predictive factors for conversion in a contemporary series of patients undergoing partial nephrectomy.Materials and Methods: We identified all patients at our institution who underwent open or laparoscopic partial nephrectomy with conversion to radical nephrectomy between 2003 and 2008. Renal function was assessed by the glomerular filtration rate using the modification of diet in renal disease equation. We used logistic regression analysis to determine whether tumor site, tumor size, body mass index, American Society of Anesthesiologists score, age or gender was associated with the conversion risk.Results: The rate of conversion to radical nephrectomy was 6% (61 of 1,029 patients). In the open partial nephrectomy group 59 of 865 cases (7%, 95% CI 5–9) and in the laparoscopic partial nephrectomy group 2 of 164 (1.2%, 95% CI 0.01–4) were converted. The most common reasons for con...