Partial nephrectomy using a microwave tissue coagulator

Abstract

The conventional method of partial nephrectomy with renal vascular clamping has a risk of excessive blood loss and renal function deterioration. Recently, a microwave tissue coagulator is often used at partial nephrectomy. It is thought that the microwave tissue coagulator can easily control the bleeding from renal parenchyma, thus renal vascular clamping is dispensable and renal function is less deteriorated.We performed 13 cases of partial nephrectomy using the microwave tissue coagulator at Yokohama city university between 1994 and 2000. Although renal vessels were clamped in many cases for a few minutes, renal function had not been worsened in all cases.We performed partial nephrectomy with less blood loss and with no significant renal function deterioration by using the microwave tissue coagulator.