A new 2-micrometer continuous wave laser method for management of the distal ureter in retroperitoneal laparoscopic nephroureterectomy.

Abstract

Retroperitoneal laparoscopic nephroureterectomy (LNU) is a classic technique for the treatment of patients with urothelial cancer of the upper urinary tract. Management of the distal ureter in patients undergoing this procedure remains controversial, however. We evaluated a new method involving cystoscopic sleeve resection of the distal ureter using a 2-μm continuous wave laser before LNU. LNU was performed in 38 patients at our hospital between January 2008 and January 2012. The distal end of the ureter was managed by using a 2-μm continuous wave laser to evaporate and excise the ureteral orifice and bladder cuff. A standard technique was applied to keep the ureter intact. The ureter was dissected to the entrance of the bladder, and the distal ureter was easily detached from the bladder. The distal ureter was excised completely in all cases using this new technique. The average operative time was 2.4 hours, and the average blood loss was 69.4 mL. At 1 year after surgery, the cause-specific survival rate of the patients was 100%, the bladder recurrence-free rate was 89%, and the extravesical recurrence-free rate was 100%. For managing the distal ureter during LNU, the new technique described proved to be a simple, safe, and minimally invasive method.