Outcomes Of Laparoscopic Radical Nephrectomy Research Articles

LONG TERM OUTCOME OF LAPAROSCOPIC RADICAL NEPHRECTOMY FOR PATHOLOGICAL T1, T2 RENAL CELL CANCER AT VIET DUC HOSPITAL

Background: To evaluation of the long term outcome of laparoscopic radical nephrectomy for pathological T1, T2 renal cell cancer at Viet Duc Hospital. Methods: We retrospectively identified 73 patients who underwent RN between 2015 and 2022. We divided patients into three groups based on tumour size: <4 cm, 4– 7 cm, >7 cm. Clinical and paraclinical characteristics include age, gender, back pain, tumor size, tumor location, disease stage on computed tomography scans, histopathological results, postoperative outcomes and complications, postoperative survival time, and accumulated survival time. Results: the average age was 53.52 ± 12.17 years. CT scans classified renal cell carcinoma stages preoperatively according to IUAC 2009: 53.4% were stage T1a, 42.4% were stage T1b, 2.8% were stage T2a, and 1.4% were stage T2b, 2 patients experienced infection at the trocar site used for kidney extraction, 4 patients developed postoperative fever, and 1 patient had postoperative bleeding requiring a blood transfusion. One patient underwent emergency open surgery immediately after discharge due to bleeding through the drainage. The postoperative complication rate according to the Clavien-Dindo classification was 11% (8 patients). The results show that 63 patients are still alive, 5 patients have passed away due to the disease, and 5 patients have died from other causes such as traffic accidents, cardiovascular diseases, and cerebral vascular accidents. The average follow-up time is 46.7±26.5 months. The cumulative survival rates at 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 years after radical nephrectomy for the treatment of renal cell carcinoma were 100%, 97.6%, 94.8%, 90.9%, and 83.3%, respectively. The average additional survival time after surgery was 84.11 ± 1.80 months. Conclusions: Laparoscopic radical nephrectomy for early-stage renal cell carcinoma (T1 and T2) demonstrates high surgical safety and absolute efficacy in oncology.

Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Laparoscopic Versus Open Radical Nephrectomy for Paediatric Renal Tumors With Focus on Wilms' Tumor.

To summarize and evaluate the outcomes of laparoscopic radical nephrectomy (LRN) and compare its safety and efficacy with open radical nephrectomy (ORN) in pediatric renal tumors (RT) and Wilms' tumors (WT). ORN is the gold standard treatment for pediatric RT, consisting predominantly of WT. LRN is gaining popularity but remains controversial in pediatric surgical oncology. A systematic search was performed for all eligible studies on LRN and comparative studies between LRN and ORN in pediatric RT and WT. Meta-analysis, subgroup analysis, and sensitivity analysis were conducted. The main endpoints were cancer-related outcomes and surgical morbidity. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines were followed. No levels I to II studies were identified. LRN was feasible in nearly 1 in 5 pediatric RT and WT after neoadjuvant chemotherapy, with pooled mid-term oncological outcomes (<7% local recurrence, >90% event-free survival) comparable with those of ORN. There was no strong evidence of an increased risk of intraoperative tumor spillage, but lymph node harvest was inadequate in LRN. Large tumors crossing the ipsilateral spinal border were associated with a trend for intraoperative complications and positive margins. Pooled complications rate and hospital stay duration were similar between LRN and ORN. Long-term (>3 years) outcomes are unknown. Available level III evidence indicates that LRN is a safe alternative to ORN for carefully selected cases, with similar spillage rates and mid-term oncological outcomes. However, there was no advantage in surgical morbidity and lymph node harvest was inadequate with LRN. Tumor-matched-group studies with long-term follow-up are required. Level III.

Perioperative and Pathological Outcome of Laparoscopic Radical Nephrectomy for Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC)

Introduction: Laparoscopy has become a well-accepted technique to treat malignant renal conditions. For renal cell carcinoma laparoscopic radical nephrectomy is the treatment of choice in selected patients. Objective: To see the feasibility, perioerative and pathological outcome of laparoscopic radical nephrectomy (LRN) in different size of tumour in renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Materials and methods: A prospective analysis was performed in 29 patients who underwent laparoscopic radical nephrectomy for RCC between October 2017 and September 2019. Patients age, tumor size, co-morbidity index, operating time, duration of hospitalization, complications and pathology were recorded. Results: Nineteen male and ten female patients were treated laparoscopically and conversion to open surgery was not required in any case. The age ranged from 30 to 72 years, tumor size varied from 5 to 15 cm and one patient had left renal vein thrombus. The operative time ranged from 60 to 180 minutes and blood loss was 50 to 150 mL. Nine patients required blood transfusion. Ileus developed in 3 patients, port site infection in 4 patients, fever in 2 patients and respiratory insufficiency in another two patients post operatively which was treated accordingly. There was no major complications and surgery related mortality. Pathological outcome was recorded after getting histopathology reports. Conclusion: The laparoscopic radical nephrectomy for RCC is safe and oncologically sound. It may be done in large tumour also. The process constitutes minimal invasiveness, low death rates, minimal intraoperative blood loss and fast rehabilitation of the patients. Different pathological sub type may predict future outcome. Sir Salimullah Med Coll J 2023; 31: 112-115

Contemporary Pure Laparoscopic vs Robot-Assisted Laparoscopic Radical Nephrectomy: Is the Transition Worth It?

Introduction: The proportion of robotic procedures continues to rise. The literature reinforces that robotic procedures take longer and are often more costly. We compared cost and perioperative outcomes of laparoscopic radical nephrectomy (LRN) and robot-assisted radical nephrectomy (RARN) at our high-volume center. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed our 2012-2015 data repository for patients undergoing RARN and LRN for a renal mass. Perioperative and oncologic outcomes were compared. We performed a multivariate analysis of operative time, estimated blood loss, length of stay (LOS), and overall and major 90-day complication rates while controlling for demographic data, Charlson comorbidity index (CCI), tumor size, and surgeon factors. We compared fixed, variable, and distinct procedural costs. Results: We identified 99 LRN and 95 RARN cases. There was no difference in demographic data, tumor size, preoperative renal function, and malignant histology. LRN patients had more comorbidities (49.5% vs 27.3% CCI 2+, p = 0.018). The mean preoperative glomerular filtration rate was higher in the robotic cohort (84.8 vs 75.1, p = 0.48). Mean operative time was 32.7 minutes longer (p = 0.002) and estimated blood loss 145 mL higher (p = 0.007) for the RARN cohort. There was no difference in mean LOS. Major and all 90-day complication rates were no different. The mean procedural cost for RARN was higher by $464 when controlling for operative time (p < 0.001). Fixed costs were not statistically different. Variable costs for RARN were estimated to be $2,310 higher (p = 0.045). Conclusions: Even with cost-conscious, experienced renal surgeons, RARN is associated with a longer procedure, higher supply costs, and higher hospitalization costs. There was no difference in positive surgical margin and complications. There were fewer 30-day readmissions for the RARN cohort, which may represent under-recognized cost savings. With fewer LRN cases in the United States each year, discussion to address cost is warranted. Without better outcomes for robotic surgery, a change in reimbursement to cover costs is unlikely to happen.

Perioperative Outcomes of Laparoscopic Radical Nephrectomy for Renal Mass in Patients on Dialysis or with Renal Transplant in Place Compared to Normal Controls.

Background: The risk of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) development in the native kidney of patients on dialysis or with a renal transplant is increased compared to the general population. This study examines perioperative outcomes of laparoscopic radical nephrectomy (LN) in dialysis patients or renal transplant patients compared to normal controls. Methods: Four hundred twelve consecutive LN were evaluated (July 2007 to October 2018). Patients were divided into three groups (control, dialysis, and transplant). Perioperative outcomes, including operating room time (OT), postoperative complications, hospital length of stay, and 90-day readmission rates, were evaluated for the three groups. Results: There were 62 patients in the dialysis group, 20 renal transplants, and 330 normal controls. Dialysis patients were younger (median: 58 years versus 67 years; P = .002) and predominantly male (73% versus 59%, P = .047). Dialysis patients compared to controls had shorter total OT (median: 133 versus 149; P = .022), more papillary RCC (27% versus 10%; P < .001), and fewer high grade tumors (73% [8/11] versus 94% [100/106]; P = .038). Renal transplant patients had a higher rate of 90-day readmission (20% versus 6%; P = .034) and more papillary RCC (30% versus 10%; P = .016) compared to controls. Conclusion: LN on dialysis patients does not alter expected perioperative outcomes compared to a large cohort of control LN. LN on renal transplant patients carries a higher 90-day readmission rate than control LN.

En bloc laparoscopic radical nephrectomy with inferior vena cava thrombectomy: A single-institution experience.

To report the outcomes of laparoscopic radical nephrectomy with inferior vena cava thrombectomy for right renal cell carcinoma at Kobe City Medical Center General Hospital, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan. A retrospective review of the clinical records of five patients who underwent laparoscopic radical nephrectomy with inferior vena cava thrombectomy for right renal cell carcinoma between 2013 and 2017 was carried out. The surgical procedure included ligation and cutting of the right renal artery, followed by kidney mobilization. The left renal vein, and the caudal and cephalad sides of the inferior vena cava thrombus were clamped using laparoscopic vascular clamps, and the inferior vena cava was incised. The free kidney and tumor thrombus were placed en bloc in a retrieval bag. Subsequently, the inferior vena cava was laparoscopically closed using a continuous suture. The median operative time, pneumoperitoneum time, blood loss and postoperative hospital stay were 316min, 266min, 400mL and 7days, respectively. The median clamp time was 28min (range 13-105min). One patient (20%) required a perioperative blood transfusion. The surgical margin was negative in all patients. Only one patient experienced a major complication (Clavien-Dindo grade ≥3), namely a postoperative hemorrhage requiring transarterial embolism. En bloc laparoscopic radical nephrectomy with inferior vena cava thrombectomy is a challenging yet feasible procedure for experienced surgeons in carefully selected patients. Further studies of this surgical procedure are required for standardization and safe application.

Elevated visceral obesity quantified by CT is associated with adverse postoperative outcome of laparoscopic radical nephrectomy for renal clear cell carcinoma patients.

To examine the association between CT measures of visceral obesity and short-term postoperative outcomes in renal clear cell carcinoma (RCCC) patients. In this retrospective study, 76 patients treated with unilateral laparoscopic radical nephrectomy for stage I-III renal cancer were classified as obese or non-obese by preoperative CT-based measures of adiposity [obese: visceral fat area (VFA) > 100cm2, BMI ≥ 28kg/m2]. Clinical variables, Fuhrman grade, operation time, estimated blood loss (EBL), postoperative complications, postoperative stay, drainage time and hospitalization expenses were compared between the two groups. Viscerally obese patients significantly had higher Fuhrman grade than the non-obese (p = 0.018). The operation time of obese patients by VFA or BMI was more than the non-obese (171.6 ± 68.9 vs. 140.8 ± 35.5min, p = 0.012 and 197.2 ± 67.2 vs. 153.2 ± 57.7min, p = 0.013, respectively). And obese patients by VFA or BMI tended to have more EBL than non-obese (132.0 ± 120.7 vs. 83.8 ± 53.4ml, p = 0.018 and 215.3 ± 165.0 vs. 92.5 ± 68.8ml, p = 0.013, respectively). Viscerally obese patients by VFA (not BMI) were more likely to develop postoperative complications as compared to patients classified as non-obese: VFA (26.9 vs. 4.2%, p = 0.045) and BMI (33.3 vs. 16.4%, p =0.265). Furthermore, obese patients by VFA (not BMI) were more likely to have longer postoperative stay: VFA (8.7 ± 2.5 vs. 7.5 ± 1.4 dollars, p = 0.013) and BMI (9.1 ± 2.9 vs. 8.1 ± 2.1 dollars, p = 0.209). Obese patients expensed more than non-obese: VFA (7570.9 ± 2674.3 vs. 6368.8 ± 1289.8 dollars, p = 0.040) and BMI (8390.8 ± 2929.7 vs. 6896.3 ± 2159.1 dollars, p = 0.029). Elevated visceral obesity by VFA is associated with increased surgical complexity, postoperative morbidity, postoperative stay and hospitalization expenses for RCCC patients and may be superior to BMI for renal cancer outcome assessment. VFA may be a useful index for the evaluation and calculation of RCCC aggressiveness.

Surgical and Oncologic Outcomes of Laparoscopic Radical Nephrectomy for Non-Metastatic Renal Cancer in Long-Term Dialysis Patients.

This study aimed to compare the outcomes of laparoscopic radical nephrectomy (LRN) between patients undergoing dialysis for ≤240 and >240 months. Data from all dialysis patients with non-metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC) treated with LRN between 2008 and 2015 in our hospital were evaluated retrospectively. Patients were divided into two groups, shorter- and longer-term dialysis patients, according to the preoperative duration of dialysis (≤240 vs. >240 months). Of 174 patients, 58 (33.3%) were on longer-term dialysis. Perioperative minor complications were significantly more frequent in the longer-term dialysis patients (P = 0.03). There was no significant difference between the two groups in other perioperative outcomes. Patients on longer-term dialysis more frequently had pathologically advanced RCC (P = 0.009) with poorer prognosis (P = 0.005). LRN for RCC in longer-term dialysis patients appears to be safe and feasible; however, careful follow-up is needed because these patients tend to have poorer prognosis.

Long-term outcome of laparoscopic radical nephrectomy for T1 renal cell carcinoma

Long-term outcome of laparoscopic radical nephrectomy for T1 renal cell carcinoma

Matched pair analysis of laparoscopic versus open radical nephrectomy for the treatment of T3 renal cell carcinoma

The perioperative and oncological outcomes of laparoscopic radical nephrectomy (LRN) for T1-T2 renal cell carcinoma (RCC) are well established. We aim to determine whether LRN is a comparable alternative to open radical nephrectomy (ORN) in the treatment of T3 RCC using a matched pair analysis study design. A review of a prospectively collected database at the Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, between 2000 and 2011 was conducted. Patient pairs were matched based on age at operation, gender, histological subgroup, maximal tumour diameter, TNM stage and grade. Patient demographics, operative and post-operative outcomes were compared. Overall, cancer-specific and progression-free survival [overall survival, cancer-specific survival (CSS) and progression-free survival (PFS)] were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. From 252 patients with T3 disease, 25 pairs were matched. Patients were of median age 66.2 years, 64 % male. Tumours were all clear cell RCC, were stage pT3a (32 %) or pT3b and had maximal tumour diameters of 8.7 cm for LRN and 10.0 cm for ORN. Estimated blood loss (100 ml LRN; 650 ml ORN, p < 0.001) and length of post-operative hospital stay (4 days LRN: 9 days ORN, p < 0.001) were lower in the LRN group. Operation time and post-operative complication rates were comparable. CSS and PFS were comparable with a mean CSS of 91.3 months for LRN and 88.7 months for ORN. This study reports the longest median follow-up in a T3 LRN cohort. In matched patients, LRN has been shown to have a superior perioperative profile to ORN for the treatment of pT3a/b RCC, with no adverse effect on midterm oncological outcomes.

Treatment outcomes of partial nephrectomy for T1b tumours

Nephron-sparing surgery is the standard of care for the treatment of localized renal tumours and is increasingly performed for larger and more challenging lesions. Aim of this review is to analyse the outcomes of partial nephrectomy for the treatment of T1b renal tumours greater than 4 cm in size. No randomized trial has compared the outcomes of partial nephrectomy compared to radical nephrectomy for T1b renal tumours. However, several single, multi-institutional and population-based studies consistently showed similar cancer-specific survival rates for open partial nephrectomy (OPN) and radical nephrectomy for tumours greater than 4 cm in size. A decreased loss in renal function was observed with partial nephrectomy compared to radical nephrectomy for T1b tumours. Laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN) for tumours greater than 4 cm in size was shown to obtain similar short-to-intermediate-term oncological outcomes of laparoscopic radical nephrectomy and OPN in experienced centres, but is associated with longer warm ischaemia time and higher complication rates. The initial series of robot-assisted partial nephrectomy show similar perioperative results and decreased warm ischaemia time compared to LPN, whereas the oncological outcomes are still immature. Partial nephrectomy for T1b renal tumours achieves comparable oncological outcomes and better preservation of renal function compared to radical nephrectomy and should be performed whenever technically possible. OPN remains at present the gold standard technique. LPN represents an alternative to OPN in centres with advanced laparoscopic expertise. Robot-assisted partial nephrectomy has the potential to overcome the drawbacks of pure laparoscopic surgery, but larger series and longer follow-up are needed to further define its role in the management of T1b tumours.

Editorial Comment

Surgical innovations for the management of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) have resulted from the ingenuity of numerous urologists. In addition, tremendous technologic advancements have facilitated the successful application of minimally invasive options to an increasing number of patients with suspected RCC. Today, most kidney surgeons consider laparoscopic radical nephrectomy (LRN) the standard of care for many patients with renal tumors who are neither candidates for nephron preservation nor for observation. However, in the contemporary era, is a LRN an acceptable surgical approach for patients with larger or more advanced renal masses? Operative Safety and Oncologic Outcome of Laparoscopic Radical Nephrectomy for Renal Cell Carcinoma >7 cm: A Multicenter Study of 222 PatientsUrologyVol. 81Issue 6PreviewTo evaluate the safety of laparoscopic radical nephrectomy (LRN) for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) >7 cm, addressing the issue of modality and risk factors for complications and open conversion, and to assess the oncologic outcome. Full-Text PDF ReplyUrologyVol. 81Issue 6PreviewWe thank Dr. Sexton and the Editorial Board for their attention to our article and appreciate his comments. As mentioned, the issue of minimally invasive surgery in renal cancer is of particular interest. Innovations and progress in surgical techniques occur mostly outside of randomized trials. Only 5% to 7% of studies published in the surgical literature are randomized controlled trials; more than half of surgical research studies are retrospective record reviews.1,2 The evidence supporting laparoscopic radical nephrectomy (LRN) is no exception. Full-Text PDF

Operative Safety and Oncologic Outcome of Laparoscopic Radical Nephrectomy for Renal Cell Carcinoma >7 cm: A Multicenter Study of 222 Patients

To evaluate the safety of laparoscopic radical nephrectomy (LRN) for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) >7 cm, addressing the issue of modality and risk factors for complications and open conversion, and to assess the oncologic outcome. The data of 222 patients undergoing LRN for RCC >7 cm prospectively enrolled from 2002 to 2010 at 5 urologic centers were reviewed. Transperitoneal LRN was performed by 5 experienced laparoscopic surgeons. The Clavien-Dindo classification was used to assess complications. Multivariable analysis of factors predictive of conversions was performed. Oncologic outcomes for survival were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Median tumor size was 8.5 cm, operative time was 180 minutes, and blood loss was 280 mL. Forty-two patients (19%) received a blood transfusion. Six (2.7%) patients had grade III-IV complications: 2 with postoperative bleeding requiring abdominal re-exploration and 1 each with adrenal injury, splenic injury, wound diastasis, and respiratory insufficiency. Twelve patients(5.4%) were converted to open surgery. The diameter was 11.9 in converted groups and 8.5 cm in nonconverted groups (P= .001). Multivariable analysis revealed that pathologic stage was the only independent predictor of conversion (P= .002). The 5-year overall (OS), cancer-specific (CSS), and progression-free (PFS) survival was 74%, 78%, and 66%, respectively. The 5-year stage-adjusted CSS was 89% in pT2 and 40% in pT3 patients (P<.0001). Limitations of this study were its retrospective nature and the relatively short follow-up period for oncologic outcome. LRN for large RCC is a safe operation. Stage pT3 is a risk factor for open conversion and is associated to significantly lower cancer-specific survival compared with pT2 stage.

Perioperative Outcomes of Laparoscopic Radical Nephrectomy for Renal Cell Carcinoma in Patients With Dialysis‐Dependent End‐Stage Renal Disease

The aims of this study were: (i) to analyze the perioperative outcomes of laparoscopic radical nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma in patients with dialysis-dependent end-stage renal disease and (ii) to reveal perioperative management problems that are unique to these patients. Between June 2004 and June 2011, laparoscopic radical nephrectomy was performed in 39 patients who had renal cell carcinoma and dialysis-dependent end-stage renal disease. The operative outcomes of these patients were compared with the operative outcomes of 104 non-end-stage renal disease patients with sporadic renal cell carcinoma who underwent laparoscopic radical nephrectomy during the same period. Laparoscopic surgery was completed in thirty-eight end-stage renal disease patients. One patient was converted to open surgery because of an intraoperative injury to the inferior vena cava. This patient was excluded from the analysis. The mean operative time was 240 min; blood loss, 157 mL; and postoperative hospital stay, 9.6 days. Postoperative complications were observed in six patients, as follows: retroperitoneal hematoma and abscess in one patient, thrombosis of the arteriovenous fistula in three patients, pneumonia in one patient, and gastrointestinal bleeding in one patient. Eleven patients required blood transfusions. There was no significant difference between the end-stage renal disease patients and the non-end-stage renal disease patients in the mean operative time or the amount of blood loss. In conclusion, laparoscopic radical nephrectomy is feasible for dialysis-dependent end-stage renal disease patients, as well as for non-end-stage renal disease patients; however, end-stage renal disease patients may have a higher probability of experiencing non-life-threatening complications.

The operative safety and oncological outcomes of laparoscopic nephrectomy for T3 renal cell cancer

What's known on the subject? and What does the study add? Laparoscopic radical nephrectomy is a well established treatment for localized RCC, where nephron-sparing approaches are not appropriate. As surgeon and departmental experience grow more extensive tumours will be tackled laparoscopically. However, little is known about the operative safety and oncological outcomes of the laparoscopic approach for locally advanced RCC. The present study describes the largest reported cohort of patients receiving laparoscopic radical nephrectomy for locally advanced RCC. In the context of suitably experienced personnel in an established centre, we have established that this approach is safe from operative, postoperative and oncological standpoints, with comparable data to existing open series. To determine the operative, postoperative and oncological outcomes of laparoscopic radical nephrectomy (LRN) for locally advanced renal cell cancer (RCC), which, as surgeon and departmental experience increases, is being performed more often. In total, 94 consecutive patients receiving LRN for pathologically confirmed T3 or T4 RCC at a tertiary referral centre between March 2002 and May 2010 were analyzed. Preoperative, operative, tumour and postoperative characteristics were evaluated together with recurrence and outcome data. Survival was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Cox's proportional hazards model was used for multivariate analysis. In total, 77 patients had LRN with curative intent and 17 patients had LRN with cytoreductive intent. There were six LRNs (6.4%) that were converted to open procedures. Overall, there were two (2.1%) Clavien grade IIIa complications, one (1.1%) grade IVa complication and one (1.1%) postoperative death. Overall median follow-up was 17.4 months. In total, 22 (28.6%) patients receiving curative LRN developed a recurrence after a median of 13.9 months; 12 (54.5%) patients developed distant metastases, five (22.7%) patients had local recurrences and three (13.6%) patients had transcoelomic spread. Median predicted progression free survival was 48.4 months in patients undergoing LRN with curative intent. Median predicted overall survival was 65.6 months after curative LRN and 15.7 months after cytoreductive LRN. Multivariate analysis did not reveal any variables influencing recurrence or survival. In the context of suitably experienced personnel in an established centre, LRN for locally advanced RCC is safe from an operative and oncological standpoint. Patients clinically staged as T3 RCC must still be selected carefully for LRN in a multidisciplinary setting.

Long-term oncologic outcomes of laparoscopic radical nephrectomy for kidney cancer resection: Dundee cohort and metaanalysis of observational studies

The long-term oncologic outcome of laparoscopic radical nephrectomy compared with that of open radical nephrectomy remains unclear. A few case series with follow-up periods longer than 5 years are reported in the literature. The existing literature is focused primarily on early and intermediate outcomes of laparoscopic radical nephrectomy. This study aimed to assess the outcome of laparoscopic radical nephrectomy for localized disease compared with open surgery. The search strategy was designed to identify observational and experimental studies conducted in any country that investigated the long-term oncologic outcomes of laparoscopic radical nephrectomy compared with open surgical resection, published in any language. We searched the MEDLINE (1996 to May 2010), EMBASE (1996 to May 2010), and Cochrane databases using the OVID interrogation software. The study included 77 men from the Dundee cohort referred for clinically localized renal cell carcinoma who underwent open or laparoscopic radical nephrectomy between January 1998 and 2004, with at least 5 years of follow-up evaluation for each. These men were included in a metaanalysis of observational studies reporting on 438 patients with a mean or median follow-up period of 5 years. The data was analyzed using Minitab statistical software and Cochrane RevMan 5.4 using the random model. The five studies (including the Dundee cohort) investigating the effects of the laparoscopic approach on renal cancer management showed no significant differences in 5 years survival between laparoscopic and open surgical approaches for the resection of kidney cancer. The resulting pooled odds ratio (OR) did not differ markedly between the two groups (pooled OR, 0.82; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.48-1.39). Similar to overall survival, the laparoscopic and open surgical approaches for renal cancer surgery did not differ significantly (Figs. 4, 5). The pooled ORs for the two outcomes were 0.76 (955 CI, 0.36-1.56) for laparoscopic surgery and 0.73 (95% CI, 0.32-1.69) for open surgery. The quality of the studies was poor. The reported designs of the studies were prone to selection, confounding, and reporting biases. The current retrospective data (observational studies) comparing long-term oncologic outcomes between laparoscopic and open radical nephrectomy did not demonstrate any significant differences during a follow-up period of 5 years.

Impact of body mass index on perioperative outcomes of laparoscopic radical nephrectomy in Japanese patients with clinically localized renal cell carcinoma

The aim of this study was to review the association between body mass index (BMI) and perioperative outcomes of laparoscopic radical nephrectomy (LRN) in Japanese patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC). This study included 108 consecutive Japanese patients undergoing LRN for RCC between April 2001 and March 2009. These patients were divided into the following two groups according to BMI: the non-obese group (n= 58, BMI 25 kg/m(2) or less) and the obese group (n= 50, BMI greater than 25 kg/m(2)). Perioperative outcomes between these two groups were retrospectively compared. There were no significant differences in clinicopathological parameters other than BMI between the non-obese and obese groups. There were no significant differences in operative time, estimated blood loss during LRN, and the incidences of open conversion and postoperative complications between these two groups. In addition, there were no significant differences in parameters related to postoperative recovery, including time to walk, time to oral intake and time until permission for discharge, between these two groups. However, significant trends toward a prolonged operative time (P= 0.0050) and increased blood loss (P= 0.012) during LRN in relation to BMI were documented by linear regression analyses. Although the degree of obesity in patients included in this study was comparatively slight, these findings suggest that LRN can be safely performed for patients with RCC irrespective of BMI. However, the difficulty of LRN may increase with BMI considering the trends toward longer operative time as well as greater blood loss.

Editorial Comment

Gabr et al present the results of a single-center, retrospective study of laparoscopic radical nephrectomy (LRN) for the treatment of RCC. 1 Gabr A.H. Gdor Y. Strope S.A. et al. Patient and pathological correlates with peri-operative and long-term outcomes of laparoscopic radical nephrectomy. Urology. 2009; (xx:xxx-xxx) Google Scholar The analysis was based on the perioperative and long-term oncologic outcomes of 255 patients who underwent LRN, with a mean follow-up of 35 months, including 40 patients with follow-up <1 year and 39 with follow-up >5 years. They performed a detailed and thorough analysis to determine factors predictive of perioperative complications as well as disease progression. The number of variables analyzed was large relative to the number of adverse events. The bias of including too many variables with an insufficient sample size confers an increased likelihood of finding a false-positive correlation, especially when combining variables in a multivariate analysis. Patient and Pathologic Correlates With Perioperative and Long-term Outcomes of Laparoscopic Radical NephrectomyUrologyVol. 74Issue 3PreviewTo comprehensively analyze and compare patient and pathologic correlates with perioperative events and with the long-term results of laparoscopic radical nephrectomy. Full-Text PDF Editorial CommentUrologyVol. 74Issue 3PreviewThe advent of laparoscopy in urology has modified the surgical management of RCC. The main advantages of laparoscopic radical nephrectomy (LRN) are primarily related to its improved perioperative outcomes. Numerous studies (including prospective randomized controlled trials for living donors in the renal transplant literature) have shown that laparoscopic nephrectomy was associated with better perioperative outcomes when compared to open nephrectomy.1,2 LRN has been shown to increase OR time while decreasing hospital stay, blood loss, pain, transfusion rate, and time to return to normal activity. Full-Text PDF ReplyUrologyVol. 74Issue 3PreviewDr. X expresses concern about the number of variables used in multivariate analyses, relative to the number of events. As a rule of thumb, 10-15 events are required for each variable included in a multivariate model to avoid Type I error (a “false positive”). For a linear regression model of duration of hospital stay, this is not pertinent as there are 255 observations. Among the remaining multivariate analyses (on recurrence-free, cancer-specific, and overall survival, and major intraoperative and postoperative complications), there were 33, 18, and 38, and 4 and 33 events, respectively. Full-Text PDF

Patient and Pathologic Correlates With Perioperative and Long-term Outcomes of Laparoscopic Radical Nephrectomy

To comprehensively analyze and compare patient and pathologic correlates with perioperative events and with the long-term results of laparoscopic radical nephrectomy. Laparoscopic radical nephrectomy was performed in 255 patients with renal cell carcinoma. Mean follow-up time was 35.2 months; for 39 patients, it was 5 or more years. Multivariate analysis revealed that major intraoperative complications were associated with increased body mass index and that major postoperative complications were associated with a higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score. Older age and higher ASA score were associated with longer hospitalization. Patients were classified using a risk group stratification that incorporated grade and stage; 118 patients were low risk, 93 were intermediate risk, and 44 patients were high risk. No pathologic features were associated with perioperative outcomes. Kaplan-Meier recurrence-free, cancer-specific, and overall survival at 5 years were 79.2%, 88%, and 76.2%, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that pathologic risk group, mass size, and high-risk histologic subtype were associated with recurrence-free survival, and cancer-specific survival was associated with pathologic risk group and mass size. Age, high-risk pathologic risk group, and a high-risk histologic subtype were associated with overall survival. Our results indicate that perioperative outcomes of laparoscopic radical nephrectomy are associated with body mass index, ASA score, and age, but not with tumor characteristics. Recurrence-free and cancer-specific survival rates were associated with the expected pathologic parameters, confirming the oncologic efficacy of the procedure. Overall survival is associated not only with tumor pathology but also with age, suggesting that competing-cause mortality is important in this setting.

Laparoscopic Radical Versus Partial Nephrectomy for Tumors >4 cm: Intermediate-term Oncologic and Functional Outcomes

To compare the oncologic and functional outcomes of laparoscopic radical nephrectomy (LRN) and laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN) for clinical Stage T1b-T3 renal cell carcinoma >4 cm in size. This retrospective analysis compared patients undergoing LRN (n = 75) or LPN (n = 35) at a tertiary referral center from April 2001 to December 2005 for Stage T1b-T3N0M0 renal cell carcinoma. The endpoints included radiologically verified systemic and local recurrence, cancer-specific mortality, overall mortality, and chronic kidney disease as determined from the calculated glomerular filtration rate and Kidney Foundation Dialysis Outcomes Quality Initiative diagnostic criteria. The LRN group had larger tumors (5.3 vs 4.9 cm; P = .03), more T3a tumors (33% vs 9%; P = .006), and more clear cell pathologic features (85% vs 66%; P = .03). No surgical margins in either group were positive. The median follow-up was 57 months (range 27-79) for the LRN group and 44 months (range 27-85) for the LPN group (P = .1). The overall mortality (11% vs 11%), cancer-specific mortality (3% vs 3%), and recurrence (3% vs 6%) rates (P = .4) were equivalent. The postoperative decrease in the estimated glomerular filtration rate was less in the LPN group than in the LRN group at 13 and 24 mL/min, respectively (P = .03). Postoperatively, 2-stage increases in the chronic kidney disease stage occurred in 12% vs 0% of patients in the LRN and LPN groups, respectively (P < .001). Our intermediate-term data have indicated that in appropriate patients with Stage T1b-T3 tumors >4 cm, LPN provides equivalent oncologic efficacy and superior renal functional outcomes compared with LRN. Future studies are required to confirm these trends.