Laparoscopic ablation of symptomatic peripelvic renal cysts.

Abstract

We report our experience with laparoscopic ablation of symptomatic peripelvic renal cysts. Two men and two women (mean age 58) with a peripelvic renal cyst associated with ipsilateral flank pain and obstruction were treated by transperitoneal laparoscopic ablation. One patient had an episode of pyelonephritis before detection of the cyst. Cyst size ranged from 4.5 to 6.5 cm (mean 5.5 cm). Dissection of the cyst was intricate because of the close proximity to the renal hilum and the compressed collecting system. Patients were followed with radiologic imaging at 6 and 12 months and once a year thereafter. In all cases, the laparoscopic procedure was successful. The operative time ranged from 120 to 190 minutes (mean 155 minutes), and the mean blood loss was <150 mL. The mean postoperative hospital stay was 2.7 days (range 2-5 days), and the time of convalescence was 14 days. Complications consisted of a subcutaneous hematoma. At a mean follow-up of 23 months, symptoms and collecting system obstruction had resolved in all patients. Although laparoscopic ablation of peripelvic renal cysts is technically challenging, it is a safe and efficacious procedure and offers a favorable minimally invasive alternative for the treatment of symptomatic cysts.