Retroperitoneoscopic Approach Research Articles

Comparative analysis of transabdominal and retroperitoneal approaches in adrenalectomy

Laparoscopic adrenalectomy has been recognised as the «gold standard» approach for benign adrenal tumours. The majority of surgeons opt for transabdominal laparoscopic adrenalectomies, while retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomies in the prone position, which were pioneered by Waltz, offer certain advantages for patients. Objective — to compare the effectiveness and complication rates of transabdominal and retroperitoneoscopic laparoscopic adrenalectomies. Materials and methods. Between 2000 and 2021, our clinic performed 472 laparoscopic adrenalectomies. The age of the patients ranged from 19 to 79 years, with a mean age of 50.5±10.2 years. The patient pool consisted of 315 women and 157 men. The primary indications for operation were as follows: incidentaloma (32.5%), pheochromocytoma (30.2%), aldosteronoma (19%), corticosteroma (10.3%), myelolipoma (3.0%), and metastatic cancer (5.0%). Tumour sizes ranged from 1 to 10 cm. Results. A total of 316 patients underwent transabdominal adrenalectomies: 206 patients had right adrenalectomies and 110 patients had left adrenalectomies. A total of 156 patients underwent retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomies. Seven patients required a conversion to a transabdominal approach, including three patients with tumours exceeding 6 cm in size and four patients with tumours ranging from 4 to 6 cm. The conversion rate amounted to 4.9%. The retroperitoneoscopic approach showed certain advantages for patients with small tumours, including shorter surgery duration, lower operative blood loss, diminished postoperative pain intensity, a lower incidence of shoulder‑tip pain, a faster transition to oral intake, and shorter hospital stays. Conclusions. Both approaches were equally safe. In patients with small tumours, retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomies outperformed the transabdominal approach in terms of shorter surgery duration, lower blood loss, lower postoperative pain, faster recovery, and favourable cosmetic results. In patients with large tumours, the transabdominal approach demonstrated better outcomes, with lower complication and conversion rates.

Long-term outcome of retroperitoneoscopic partial versus total adrenalectomy in patients with Cushing's syndrome.

We analyze the long-term outcome of surgery for Cushing's syndrome (CS) and the influence of the extent of surgical resection on the duration of postoperative cortisone substitution. One-hundred forty-one patients (129 female, 12 males; mean age: 45.7±12.8years) operated between January 2000 to June 2020 were included in the analysis. Patients suffered from manifest (124) or subclinical (17) CS due to benign unilateral adrenal neoplasia. All tumors were removed by the posterior retroperitoneoscopic approach. 105 patients had total (TA) and 36 partial (PA) adrenalectomies. All patients were discharged with ongoing corticosteroid supplementation therapy. Follow-up data could be obtained for 83 patients. Twenty-four (1male, 23 females; mean age 42.3years) underwent PA and 59TA (6 males, 53 females; mean age 44.6years). Mean follow-up time was 107±68months (range: 6-243months). The median duration of postoperative corticosteroid therapy was 9.5months after PA and 11months after TA (p=0.1). Significantly, more patients after total adrenalectomy required corticosteroid therapy for more than 24months (25% vs. 4%; p=0.03). Recurrent ipsilateral disease occurred in one case after partial adrenalectomy and was treated by completion adrenalectomy. A case of contralateral recurrence associated with subclinical Cushing's syndrome was observed after total adrenalectomy. The risk of local recurrence after partial adrenalectomy in CS is low. Cortical-sparing surgery may shorten corticosteroid supplementation therapy after surgery.

Retroperitoneoscopy of the presacral space in horses: Surgical access and anatomy.

Surgical approaches to the equine rectum and perirectal area are described in the literature. However, surgeries in this region can be challenging. To describe the surgical anatomy of the presacral space and to evaluate its access using a retroperitoneoscopic approach. Ex vivo experiment. Preliminary dissections were performed in two cadavers to define the boundaries of the presacral space and to determine portal locations for the surgical approach. After that, nine cadavers were used for experimental presacral retroperitoneoscopic procedure in a standing position. Following retroperitoneoscopy, cadavers were dissected to confirm the anatomical structures observed during the endoscopic procedures, to control the location of each portal and to record iatrogenic trauma. The presacral space was bordered by the vertebral column from the ventral aspect of lumbosacral promontorium to the first coccygeal vertebra dorsally and by the presacral fascia and peritoneum ventrally. Lateral limits were composed of the sacrosciatic ligament and transversalis fascia. Cranial and caudal borders were composed of the peritoneum and coccygeal and levator ani muscles respectively. Retroperitoneoscopic portals were placed between the external anal sphincter and semimembranosus muscles and between the base of the tail and the external anal sphincter muscle through the anococcygeal fascia to enter the space by its caudal border. The retroperitoneal space was reached in all cases and the dorsal and lateral aspects of the rectum were visualised after creation of a working space. Use of cadaver specimens do not permit to evaluate the tolerance in living animals and the surgical complications such as rectal damage, haemorrhage and infection. This study provides an anatomical description and surgical access of the presacral space with a minimal invasive approach. Retroperitoneoscopy allows access to the rectum and the dorsal aspect of the pelvis.

Retroperitoneoscopic or Transperitoneal Approach for Neurogenic and Adrenal Tumors in Children? A Comparison on the Way to Enhanced Recovery in Pediatric Surgical Oncology

BackgroundMinimally invasive surgery is increasingly utilized for resection of neurogenic tumors in children. The minimally invasive retroperitoneoscopic approach was recently reported in children, but transperitoneal laparoscopy still remains the most common technique. The aim of this study is to compare a novel single-port retroperitoneoscopy (SPR) approach for pediatric neurogenic tumor resection with transperitoneal laparoscopic (TPL). MethodsPatients undergoing minimally invasive resection of abdominal neurogenic tumors over 5 years at a single institution (from 2018 to 2022) were retrospectively reviewed. Tumor volume, stage, presence of image-defined risk factors (IDRFs), neoadjuvant chemotherapy, operative time, estimated blood loss (EBL), length of stay (LOS), complications, oral morphine equivalents per kilogram (OME/Kg), and time to chemotherapy were assessed and compared with SPR and TPL approaches. ResultsEighteen and fifteen patients underwent TPL and SPR, respectively. No significant differences were found between the TPL and SPR approaches in terms of tumor characteristics and IDRFs. Patients who underwent SPR had a significantly faster recovery (p = 0.008) and less postoperative opioid use compared to those in TPL (p = 0.02), thus allowing an enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) protocol application. TPL and SPR approaches were performed in presence of IDRFs, respectively in 2 (11%) and 4 patients (27%), with a IDRFs-related conversion in one TPL procedure. Both approaches had one < Grade 3 Clavien Dindo complication, but not requiring further surgery. DiscussionSPR approach can be considered as a safe and feasible minimally invasive approach for the resection of pediatric primary adrenal and neurogenic tumors. The retroperitoneoscopic approach performed using a single port technique represents a promising new frontier of ERAS application in pediatric surgical oncology. ConclusionSPR is a viable surgical alternative in selected neurogenic abdominal tumors with limited IDRFs, thus allowing for the application of ERAS protocols in these patients. Level of EvidenceLevel III.

Indocyanine green fluorescence-guided lymphadenectomy with single site retroperitoneoscopy in children

Retroperitoneoscopic lymphadenectomy is an established surgical approach in adult urology, but rarely described in pediatric population. We develop retroperitoneoscopic surgical oncology in children, combining new technology innovations in pediatric surgery such as single site port retroperitoneoscopic in supine position and indocyanine green (ICG). The video describes a step-by-step approach from the ICG injection technique to the lymph-node retroperitoneoscopic harvesting. The video highlights anatomical landmarks and ICG intraoperative lymph nodes findings. Four consecutive surgical procedures were performed in children with paratesticular rhabdomyosarcoma who required staging template retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND) for staging. All patients were discharged the same day without 30-days postoperative complications. Retroperitoneoscopic approach with single port and indocyanine guided lymphatic mapping for template retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND) is a feasible minimally invasive procedure in children. Combining different technology innovations allows an effective lymph node harvesting with the possibility to offer an enhanced recovery after surgery in pediatric oncology population.

Is Continuous Wound Infiltration a Better Option for Postoperative Pain Management after Open Nephrectomy Compared to Thoracic Epidural Analgesia?

Despite increasingly advanced minimally invasive percutaneous ablation techniques, surgery remains the only evidence-based therapy in curative intent for larger (>3-4 cm) renal tumors. Although minimally invasive surgery using (robotic-assisted) laparoscopic or retroperitoneoscopic approaches has gained popularity, open nephrectomy (ON) is still performed in 25% of cases, especially in tumors with central localization (partial ON) or large tumors with/without cava thrombus (total ON). As postoperative pain is one of the drawbacks of ON, our study aims to assess recovery and post-operative pain management using continuous wound infiltration (CWI) compared to thoracic epidural analgesia (TEA). Since 2012, all patients undergoing ON at our tertiary cancer center at CHUV have been included in our prospective ERAS® (enhanced recovery after surgery) registry that is centrally stored in ERAS® Interactive Audit System (EIAS) secured server. This study represents an analysis of all patients operated on with partial or total ON at our center between 2012 and 2022. An additional analysis was performed for the estimations of the total cost of CWI and TEA, based on the diagnosis-related group method. 92 patients were included and analyzed in this analysis (n = 64 (70%) with CWI; n = 28 (30%) with TEA). Adequate oral pain control was earlier achieved in the CWI group compared to the TEA group (median 3 vs. 4 days; p = 0.001), whereas immediate postoperative pain relief was better in the TEA group (p = 0.002). Consequently, opioid use was higher in the CWI group (p = 0.004). Still, reported nausea was lower in the CWI group (p = 0.002). Median time to bowel recovery was similar in both groups (p = 0.03). A shorter LOS (0.5 days) was observed in patients managed with CWI, although this was not statistically significant (p = 0.06). The use of CWI has reduced total hospital costs by nearly 40%. TEA has better results in terms of postoperative pain management compared to CWI following ON. However, CWI is better tolerated, and causes less nausea and earlier recovery, which leads to a shorter length of stay. Given its simplicity and cost-effectiveness, CWI should be encouraged for ON.

Minimally invasive techniques in benign and malignant adrenal tumors.

Minimally invasive adrenalectomy has become the main treatment modality for most adrenal lesions. Both laparoscopic transabdominal and retroperitoneoscopic approaches are safe and feasible options, each with respective advantages, including better surgical outcomes, fewer complications, and faster recovery over open adrenalectomy. While open surgery remains a valid modality in treatment of adrenocortical cancer in the presence of some findings such as invasion, robotic platforms, and minimally invasive surgery have gained popularity as technology continues to evolve. Organ preservation during adrenalectomy is feasible in some conditions to prevent adrenal insufficiency. Ablative technologies are increasingly utilized in benign and malignant tumors, including the adrenal gland, with various outcomes. A multidisciplinary team, an experienced surgeon, and a high-volume center are recommended for any surgical approaches and management of adrenal lesions. This review article evaluated recent findings and current evidence on minimally invasive adrenalectomy.

A Canadian centre's experience with prone retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomy.

Minimally invasive adrenalectomy is the standard of care for the surgical management of benign adrenal disease. The transperitoneal laparoscopic approach (TLA) is the most common approach used worldwide; however, many centres have adopted a posterior retroperitoneoscopic approach (PRA), as it is reported to offer several advantages. We describe our experience with PRA. We performed a retrospective review of the charts of patients who underwent minimally invasive adrenalectomy via PRA or TLA performed by a single endocrine surgeon between September 2010 and December 2019 at a tertiary academic centre in British Columbia, Canada. Patient and tumour characteristics, operative times and postoperative outcomes were compared between the 2 groups. During the study period, 58 patients underwent adrenalectomy via PRA, and 41 underwent adrenalectomy via TLA. The median American Society of Anesthesiologists score was higher in the TLA group than the PRA group (3.0 v. 2.6, p = 0.02). Adrenal glands were heavier in the TLA group than the PRA group (mean 63.4 g v. 19.2 g, p < 0.001). The mean anesthesia preparation time was shorter with PRA than with TLA (51.5 min v. 63.7 min, p < 0.001), as was mean operative time (77.9 min v. 118.4 min, p < 0.001) and mean hospital length of stay (2 d v. 4 d, p < 0.001). There was no difference in the complication rate between the 2 groups. Our study shows that PRA offers shorter operative time and length of stay for appropriately selected patients. Thus, it has become the preferred approach at our centre for minimally invasive adrenalectomy.

Perception versus reality: A case-matched study assessing the intraoperative hemodynamics of minimally invasive retroperitoneal versus transperitoneal approach to pheochromocytomas

BackgroundPheochromocytomas produce excess catecholamines that can result in intraoperative hemodynamic instability. Centers have reported variations in intraoperative hemodynamics with the retroperitoneoscopic versus the laparoscopic transperitoneal approach to adrenalectomies. When the retroperitoneoscopic approach was initiated for pheochromocytomas at our institution, the perception was of improved intraoperative hemodynamics, hypothesizing that increased retroperitoneoscopic insufflation pressures caused decreased venous return and less fluctuation in circulating catecholamines. The purpose of this study was to examine if a difference in intraoperative hemodynamics exists between a size-matched cohort of laparoscopic transperitoneal and retroperitoneoscopic pheochromocytoma patients. MethodsUnilateral adrenalectomies for pheochromocytoma performed via laparoscopic transperitoneal or retroperitoneoscopic approaches from 2015 to 2021 were identified from a surgical database. As larger tumors often underwent a laparoscopic transperitoneal approach, cases were matched 1:1 by tumor size. All patients received phenoxybenzamine. Groups were compared by patient characteristics, preoperative blockade, intraoperative hemodynamics and management, and early postoperative outcomes. ResultsThere were 13 laparoscopic transperitoneal adrenalectomy cases matched to 13 retroperitoneoscopic cases according to tumor size. Both groups (laparoscopic transperitoneal and retroperitoneoscopic) were similar for age (53 years), body mass index (28.5 vs 29.7), sex (69% female), and side (8 vs 7 right). There was no difference in preoperative 24-hour urine metanephrines/normetanephrines (9.9/8.0 vs 2.4/5.7 μmol/day). The phenoxybenzamine dose was similar in both groups (112 vs 114 mg/24 hours), as were baseline heart rate, blood pressure, and mean arterial pressure. There was no difference in any intraoperative hemodynamic parameters or vasoactive interventions. Operative time, length of stay, and 30-day emergency visits were similar between groups. ConclusionThis matched cohort study did not find a difference in intraoperative hemodynamics between laparoscopic transperitoneal and retroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomy approaches for pheochromocytoma in appropriately selected and blocked patients.

263 Minimally Invasive Non-Radical Nephrectomy for Benign Renal Disease: A Single Centre Experience Comparing Two Surgical Approaches

Abstract In our high-volume tertiary centre for renal disease, we perform in excess of 150 nephrectomies for benign or malignant disease per annum. In this study we compare outcomes between laparoscopic and retroperitoneoscopic minimally invasive (MI) approaches. We retrospectively reviewed our database of all patients who underwent MI non-radical nephrectomy over a 3-year period. Indication for surgery, conversion rate, operative time, blood loss, length of stay and post-operative complications were examined. A total of 61 MI nephrectomies were performed by three experienced minimal access surgeons. Indications for surgery included chronic infection, stone disease, tuberculosis, and obstruction associated with pain. Mean age was 51 years (range 22–89), 72% were female. The approach was laparoscopic in 62% and retroperitoneoscopic in 38%. Median operative time 137 minutes. The overall conversion rate was 3% (2 patients). Median blood loss 50ml's with 1.5% transfusion rate. Median length of stay was 2 days (1–69). There was no significant change in the renal function (P=0.32). Four patients developed Clavien-Dindo grade 3 complication. There was no recorded mortality in our series. We acknowledge this is a retrospective study that may be subject to selection bias, however our experience of this procedure in high volume centre with experienced operators shows that both laparoscopic and retroperitoneoscopic approaches are safe in performing MI non-radical nephrectomy with very low conversion rate.

Minimally invasive techniques in adrenal gland surgery

Today, adrenalectomy can be performed by avariety of laparoscopic and retroperitoneoscopic approaches. Of particular importance are the lateral transperitoneal and the posterior retroperitoneoscopic access routes. Comparative studies of transperitoneal and retroperitoneal procedures still demonstrate heterogeneous results. Nevertheless, retroperitoneal access techniques seem to enable less postoperative pain and afaster recovery. Robotic procedures are gaining in popularity but the final importance cannot yet be determined. All minimally invasive techniques are considered to be so safe and reliable that open approaches are only justified in exceptional cases.

The adoption of the endoscopic retroperitoneal approach to the adrenal gland - Conversion factors and learning points

IntroductionMinimally invasive adrenalectomy includes laparoscopic transperitoneal (LA) and retroperitoneoscopic (RP) approaches. This study reviewed the local adrenalectomy practice to identify characteristics and outcomes between patients undergoing adrenalectomy via LA, RP, and RP requiring conversion (RPC). MethodsAdrenalectomies documented in a prospective surgical database were reviewed. Demographics, diagnosis, surgical approach/conversion, body mass index (BMI), radiographic body measurements (RBM), tumor size, operative time (OT), length of stay (LOS), and 30-day post-operative emergency (ED) visits were collected. Results203 adrenalectomies were reviewed from 2015 to 2020. The RP group had the shortest OT (124 ± 54 min, p = 0.281 vs LA, p < 0.001 vs RPC) and LOS (1.6 ± 1.0 days, p < 0.001 vs LA and RPC). There was an 18% conversion rate from RP to LA, and in one case to laparotomy. The RPC group had greater BMI, OT, LOS, and ED visits than LA and RP. The RPC group had less favorable RBM (p < 0.001). On multivariate analysis, RBM impacted OT, LOS, and ED visits (p < 0.05). DiscussionThe RP approach had shorter OT and LOS. BMI and RBM may increase risk of conversion, OT, LOS, and ED visits. Preoperative RBM may aid in appropriate patient selection for a RP approach.

Влияние эндовидеоскопических операций при нефролитиазе на функциональное состояние почек

Introduction. In recent years, there has been a persistent trend towards an increase in the incidence of urolithiasis. The treatment of large and complex kidney stones greatest difficulty is one of the challenges. Such stones, as well as surgical methods of their removal, can have an adverse effect on the functional state of the kidneys, which confers a significant medical, social and economic problem. The purpose of this study is to identify factors affecting the functional state of the kidneys in the postoperative period when using various video endoscopic methods of surgical treatment of patients with large and complex kidney stones. Materials and methods. We analyzed the results of treatment of 97 patients with large and complex kidney stones. Depending on the treatment, all these patients were divided into three groups: 1st – 44 (45,36%) patients who underwent percutaneous nephrolithotripsy in prone position, 2nd – 29 (29,9%) patients who underwent percutaneous nephrolithotripsy in the supine position, 3rd – 24 (24,74%) of the patient who underwent pyelolithotomy with laparoscopic and retroperitoneoscopic approaches. Assessment of the area and density of stones was performed by computed tomography. The glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was calculated by CKD-PI formula and dynamic nephroscintigraphy was used to assess of each kidney function. Results. In the postoperative period, the decrease in GFR was most pronounced in the group of patients after percutaneous nephrolithotripsy in the supine position. Among the most significant factors worsening this indicator were the volume of intraoperative (r=0,410, p&lt;0,001, n=97) and postoperative blood loss (r=0,294, p &lt;0.01, n=97), duration of surgery (r=0,187, p &lt;0,1, n=97), density (r=0,426, p &lt;0,001, n=97) and the area (r=0,554, p &lt;0,001, n=97) of the concretion, as well as the body mass index (r=0,294, p &lt;0,01, n=97). Conclusions. The most significant factors that have a negative impact on the functional state of the kidneys were the density and area of the stone, the patient's body mass index and the volume of intraoperative blood loss. The least deterioration of kidney function in the postoperative period was observed with endoscopic pyelolithotomy, and the greatest – with percutaneous nephrolithotripsy in the patient's back position.

Prikaz prve laparoskopske adrenalektomije zbog feohromocitoma u pedijatrijskoj populaciji u Republici Srbiji

Pheochromocytoma is a tumor that arises from adrenal medulla and it is characterized by increased secretion of catecholamines. The incidence of pheochromocytoma is 3 to 8 cases per million inhabitants, of which about 10 to 20% of diagnosed pheochromocytomas occurs in the pediatric population, with a higher frequency in boys. In 1.7% of the pediatric population with hypertension, the cause of hypertension is pheochromocytoma. Due to headaches and verified hypertension on twenty-four-hour holter blood pressure monitoring, the 13-year-old female patient underwent ultrasound, followed by scintigraphy and magnetic resonance imaging of the abdomen, which described an oval change above the right kidney about 4.5 cm in diameter suspected of pheochromocytoma. Twenty-four-hour urine cateholamines showed elevated noradrenaline values as much as 45 times higher than the reference range, as well as elevated Dopamine values. After adequate preparation with phenoxybenzamine and bisoprolol for two weeks, a right laparoscopic adrenalectomy was performed at the University Children's Clinic in Tirsova, which is also the first operation of this type in the pediatric population. Intraoperatively, the maximum value of tension was 180/120 mmHg. Pathohistological findings confirmed pheochromocytoma. Although a rare cause of hypertension in the pediatric population, young patients with newly diagnosed hypertension should be examined for possible pheochromocytoma. Laparoscopic adrenalectomy through both the lateral transabdominal and posterior retroperitoneoscopic approach is the gold standard for the treatment of pheochromocytomas in both the adult and pediatric populations.

2021 Canadian Surgery Forum: Virtual, online Sept. 21-24, 2021.

# 01. Design and validation of a unique endoscopy simulator using a commercial video game {#article-title-2} Procedural simulation has been shown to enhance early endoscopy training. In this proof of concept study, we aimed to show that a first-person shooter (FPS) video game with a novel in-house

Comparative evaluation of surgical methods for low invasive surgical treatment of diseases of the kidneys and urinary tract

Background. The rapid development of laparoscopic surgery can significantly reduce trauma during operations in the retroperitoneal space. These goals are also achieved by retroperitoneoscopy (RPS), which has become widespread in the last twenty years. The main difficulties for surgeons were associated with a small workspace and a lack of clear anatomical landmarks. Different access methods have different features, advantages and disadvantages, the analysis of which helps to optimize surgical treatment and accelerate patient rehabilitation.Aim: to study the advantages and disadvantages of retroperitoneoscopic and transperitoneal laparoscopic surgical methods of treatment.Materials and methods: We analyzed 305 case histories of patients operated on for various kidney diseases. The patients were divided into 2 groups: Group 1 – patients who underwent surgery using an extraperitoneal retroperitoneoscopic approach, Group 2 – patients who used the transperitoneal laparoscopic approach. A comparison of two methods of surgical treatment of kidney diseases, retroperitoneoscopic and laparoscopic access, was carried out. The following indicators were compared: duration of surgery, length of hospital stay, need for analgesics, frequency of postoperative complications.Results. The duration of the operation with retroperitoneoscopic surgery was reduced by more than 15 % compared with the laparoscopic approach. Shorter periods of pain relief were required, and the number of complications also decreased. The duration of inpatient treatment did not differ significantly.Conclusion. Retroperitoneoscopic approach can be used as the method of choice for operations on the retroperitoneal space.

Feasibility and safety of the posterior retroperitoneoscopic approach in the resection of aortocaval and infrarenal paraganglioma: a single-center experience

The posterior retroperitoneoscopic approach (PRA) has been under attention as a method for resection of paraganglioma (PGL) for the past few years. However, only a few studies have explored the effectiveness and safety of the PRA for aortocaval and infrarenal PGL resection. We designed this retrospective study to investigate the safety and effectiveness of the PRA for aortocaval and infrarenal PGL resection in a single center. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients who underwent PRA for PGL resection at our medical center from January 2006 to March 2021. Eight patients were enrolled, of whom six had aortocaval PGL. We investigated the surgical outcomes of enrolled patients. The locations of the tumors in relation to the renal vein were: suprarenal in two (25.0%) patients, at the renal vein level in three (37.5%) patients, and infrarenal in three (37.5%) patients. The mean operative time of the enrolled patients was 101.5 ± 39.1min. The mean postoperative stay was 3.5 ± 1.5days, and the estimated blood loss was 31.3 ± 51.4ml. There was one minor complication (chyle leakage), and two hypotensive events occurred during the surgery. Focusing on the results of the renal vein level and infrarenal PGL resection, the mean operative time, mean postoperative stay, and estimated blood loss of the patients were 109.2 ± 41.3min, 3.5 ± 1.8days, and 41.7 ± 56.4ml, respectively. The PRA for aortocaval and infrarenal PGL resection is feasible and safe. Additional data analysis and long-term follow-up are needed in the future.

Posterior Retroperitoneoscopic Adrenalectomy: Recommendations to Implement This Approach

IntroductionThe posterior retroperitoneoscopic approach (PRA) is seldom used in our country to perform adrenalectomies, although it offers possible advantages over laparoscopic anterior or lateral access, according to some authors. The aim of this study was to identify those features that determine the most suitable cases to start the implementation of this technique. MethodsA prospective observational study was performed with a 50-patient cohort. All the cases were operated using the PRA. Sex, age, body mass index (BMI), operative time, left or right side, size and anatomopathological characteristics of the lesion, conversion rates, complications and hospital stay were analyzed. Results25 (50%) women and 25 (50%) men underwent surgery, with a median operative time of 80min (45–180). A significantly shorter operative time (P=.002) was observed in women and in adenomas (P=.002). However, no correlation was observed between surgical time and BMI, lesion side or lesion size. There were no conversions. The complication rate was 14%, and most of the complications were grade I on Clavien–Dindo's scale. Median hospital stay was two days. ConclusionsRetroperitoneoscopic adrenalectomy by posterior approach is a safe and reproducible procedure, with very good outcomes. The most suitable cases to implement this technique would be female patients with adrenal adenomas.

Clinical Value of Patient-Specific Three-Dimensional Printing of Kidney Before Partial Nephrectomy: A Qualitative Assessment.

Objectives: To qualitatively assess the clinical usefulness of patient-specific high-fidelity three-dimensional (3D) print model of kidney before partial nephrectomy (PN) and to identify subset domains where it may help in clinical terms. Materials and Methods: Thirteen 3D models were printed for tumors having RENAL nephrometry score of ≥8. Their usage for PN was assessed prospectively using a qualitative questionnaire to be answered on a Likert scale of 1-10. The questions focused on realistic resemblance, preoperative dry surgical run, intertest comparison, surgical impact, and overall beneficence domains as perceived by primary surgeons with respect to surgical conduct during PN. Results: Mean RENAL score was 9.15 (8-11). Models were rated high (9.07 ± 0.86) for realistic resemblance domain and were rated better than contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) (8.38 ± 0.87) and intraoperative ultrasonography (8.07 ± 1.26) for orientation regarding resection margins. A further marginal improvement to 8.2 ± 0.84 was noted against ultrasound where surgeon did a dry cut preoperatively. Use of superselective arterial approach in four, precise awareness about dissection of a major vessel in four, retroperitoneoscopic approach in one, and surgical margin awareness in three were directly attributed to the model. Overall utility of having a model printed was rated high (8.23 ± 1.3). Conclusion: The 3D print models of complex renal tumors have high realistic resemblance to actual patient's anatomy. They were rated better than preoperative CECT or intraoperative ultrasonography for orientation regarding surgical resection margins. It may also help change or modify the surgical plan in a subset of patients with a potential to improve overall outcomes in these complex cases.

Retroperitoneoscopic Resection of a Posterior Tumor of the Liver

Laparoscopic surgery of the posterior segment of the liver is challenging. We present a retroperitoneoscopic approach to resect a posterior tumor of the liver. A 75-year-old man with hepatic cirrhosis had a hepatic tumor mimicking an adrenal tumor. Abdominal contrast CT scan revealed a 20mm mass in the right adrenal gland. On MRI scan, fat within the lesion was seen and the tumor was suspected to be an adrenal adenoma. One year later, the tumor increased to 32mm, and resection was undertaken. The patient was placed in the left decubitus position and the operation performed with four trocars using a retroperitoneal approach. First, the right adrenal gland was resected, but no tumor was found. The tumor showed extrahepatic development. We performed a partial resection of segment7 of the liver. Liver dissection was performed with an ultrasonic energy device. The operative time was 167 min, and the estimated blood loss was minimal. The patient was discharged on postoperative day 11 following an uneventful postoperative course. Pathology of the specimen confirmed hepatocellular carcinoma with free surgical margins. A retroperitoneal approach to the posterior segment of the liver does not require full mobilization of the right lobe. Although bleeding control may be difficult, this approach may be suggested as an additional therapeutic option, especially in patients needing partial resection of the posterior segments.