Safety,efficacy and reliability of the IUPU technique in setting up the retroperitoneal cavity for retroperitoneoseopy——with 1114 cases experience

Abstract

Objective To assess the safety,efficacy and reliability of IUPU(Abbreviation of Institute of Urology,Peking University)technique in setting up the retroperitoneal cavity for retroperitoneoscopy. Methods From February 1996 to March 2006,more than 1100 retroperitoneoscopic procedures were performed with the IUPU technique in setting up the retroperitoneal cavity,First,at the cross point of the line 2 cm above the iliac crest and the longitudirml line close to the anterior auxiliary line,a 1 cm skin incision was made and the Veress needle was penetrated into the retroperitoneal space(RPS)with a 0°-30° angle to the perpendicular line.The CO2 gas was pumped into the RPS till the pressure increases to 14mmHg and the first port was inserted into the RPS.The laparoscope was then inserted into the RPS through the first port and kept swinging right and left with its tip and trunk tO set up the retroperitoneal cavity.Other 2 ports were put into the RPS at cross points of the sub-costal line and anterior and posterior auxiliary lines under monitor observation.Then other appliances are introduced into the RPS to expand the cavity.More than 1100 procedures had been done with the IUPU technique,including 54 cases of simple nephrectomy (loss of function due to tuberculosis,hydronephrosis and atrophy), 188 radical nephrectomy, 154 ureteronephrectomy, 344 adrenalectomy, 302 renal cyst decortications, 35 partial nephrectomy, 37 pyeloplasty. Results The average time for the IUPU technique was (5.4±2.8)min (range 4. 5 to 14. 5 min) to set up the RPS. Complications included converting to open surgery due to bleeding in 8 cases(8/1114,0. 72%) when the first port was inserted into the RPS and entered into the peritoneal cavity for the first port penetration in 32 cases (32/1114,2. 87%),although the retroperitoneal cavity could be set up successfully by adjusting the laparoscope into the RPS.There was no injury to other viscera. Conclusions The IUPU technique is safe, efficient and reliable in setting up the RPS and no other special instrument is needed. It can be finished within 5 min on skilled hands and is valuable as a routine method to set up the retroperitoneal cavity. Key words: Laparoscopy; Retroperitoneoscopy; Retroperitoneal space