Retroperitoneal nephrectomy: a comparison with open nephrectomy -

Eleven retroperitoneal laparoscopic nephrectomies and 12 standard subcostal nephrectomies that were performed for the treatment of benign conditions between 1993 and 1996, were evaluated in regard to operative time, pain medication, hospital stay and interval to return regular activities. The average operative time was 168 minutes for the endoscopic group, The mean hospital stay was 2.1 days with the endoscopic nephrectomy. The mean postoperative period that parenteral pain medication was needed, was 1.3 day for the endoscopic group. The interval to return regular activities was 7 days with the endoscopic nephrectomy. The same parameters were found as followed respectively for the open nephrectomy group: the average operative time 145 minutes, the mean hospital stay 6 days, the need of parenteral pain medication 3.4 days, the interval to return regular activities 27 days. Retroperitoneal laparoscopic nephrectomy may be preferred to open nephrectomy for the treatment of benign renal conditions while providing superior cosmetic result, better analgesia, shorter hospital stay and convalescence in the clinics that the laparoscopic surgery have been routinely performed.. Key words: Retroperitoneal, laparoscopic, nephrectomy