Anup P. Ramani

The impact of warm ischaemia on renal function after laparoscopic partial nephrectomy

Authors from Cleveland assessed the impact of warm ischaemia on renal function, using their large database of laparoscopic partial nephrectomies for tumour. While agreeing that renal hilar clamping is essential for precise excision of the tumour, and other elements of the operation, the authors indicate that warm ischaemia may potentially damage the kidney. However, they found that there were virtually no clinical sequelae from warm ischaemic of up to 30 min. They also found that advancing age and pre‐existing renal damage increased the risk of postoperative renal damage.

Laparoscopic Radical Nephrectomy For Cancer With Level I Renal Vein Involvement

PURPOSE Venous involvement develops in 5% to 10% of patients with renal cell carcinoma and is generally considered a relative contraindication to laparoscopic radical nephrectomy. To our knowledge we report the initial clinical series of laparoscopic radical nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma associated with level I renal vein thrombus. MATERIALS AND METHODS At our 2 institutions 8 patients each underwent laparoscopic radical nephrectomy for level I microscopic renal vein thrombus (group 1) and level I gross thrombus (group 2). In all 8 group 2 patients the level I thrombus was preoperatively diagnosed by computerized tomography. Mean renal tumor size in groups 1 and 2 was 7.8 and 12.4 cm., respectively. After controlling the renal artery the renal vein was secured by firing an endoscopic gastrointestinal anastomosis stapler on its collapsed, uninvolved proximal part adjacent to the vena cava. Intraoperative, postoperative and pathological parameters were assessed in the 2 groups. RESULTS In group 1 laparoscopic radical nephrectomy was technically successful in all 8 patients. Mean operative time was 3.1 hours, mean estimated blood loss was 382 cc and mean hospital stay was 1.9 days. In 1 patient each a soft tissue and a vascular margin was positive for cancer. At a mean follow up of 19.5 months (range 2 to 36) metastatic disease occurred in 3 cases (38%). In group 2 laparoscopic radical nephrectomy was technically successful in 7 cases with open conversion in 1. Mean operative time was 3.3 hours, mean estimated blood loss was 354 cc and mean hospital stay was 2.3 days. Surgical soft tissue and the renal vein vascular margin of the transected vein were negative for cancer in all 8 cases. At a mean followup of 9.4 months (range 5 to 16) pulmonary metastasis developed in 1 patient (13%). CONCLUSIONS Although it is an advanced procedure, laparoscopic radical nephrectomy in patients with level I renal vein thrombus is feasible, safe and follows established oncological principles.

Laparoscopic upper pole partial nephrectomy with concomitant en bloc adrenalectomy

Abstract Objectives To report our experience with laparoscopic partial nephrectomy for renal tumor with concomitant adrenalectomy. An upper pole renal tumor may contiguously involve the adrenal gland, requiring concomitant adrenalectomy. Although commonly performed in the setting of laparoscopic radical nephrectomy, concomitant adrenalectomy has not been described during laparoscopic partial nephrectomy. Methods Four patients with an upper pole renal tumor and suspected adrenal involvement underwent laparoscopic partial nephrectomy with concomitant ipsilateral adrenalectomy. Preoperative three-dimensional computed tomography revealed the renal tumor to be closely abutting the adrenal gland in 3 patients and a 4-cm adrenal mass in 1 patient. The mean renal tumor size was 3.2 cm (range 1.4 to 6.6). To maintain oncologic principles, our transperitoneal laparoscopic technique excises the adrenal gland en bloc with the renal tumor. As such, adrenalectomy is performed first, followed by partial nephrectomy, incorporating hilar control, tumor excision, and sutured renal reconstruction. Results All four procedures were performed without open conversion or intraoperative complications. The mean renal warm ischemia time was 36 minutes, estimated blood loss 169 mL, total operating time 3.9 hours, and hospital stay 3.2 days. One patient developed a transient urinary leak postoperatively. Pathologic examination of the renal tumor revealed renal cell carcinoma (n = 1), dystrophic calcification with ectopic bone formation (n = 1), adult mesoblastic nephroma (n = 1), and subcapsular heterotopic adrenal cortex with cyst (n = 1), all with negative surgical margins. Pathologic examination of the adrenal gland revealed adenoma in 1 case and a normal adrenal gland without malignant involvement in 3 cases. All patients were disease free at last follow-up (mean 6.2 months, range 2 to 12). Conclusions In patients with an upper pole renal tumor and radiologically suspected adrenal involvement, laparoscopic partial nephrectomy with concomitant adrenalectomy can be performed efficaciously respecting oncologic principles.

Ureteral tissue balloon expansion for laparoscopic bladder augmentation: survival study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The search for the perfect urinary bladder substitute continues. Despite their inherent limitations, intestinal segments remain the commonest material for bladder reconstruction. The ureter, with its transitional epithelium, may be the ideal tissue to augment the bladder. Ikeguchi et al reported the feasibility of chronic ureteral balloon expansion by open surgery (J Urol 1998;159:1665). Herein, we propose a completely minimally invasive approach to balloon overdilate a segment of juxtavesical ureter incrementally and to use this in-line tissue-expanded ureteral patch to augment the bladder laparoscopically. MATERIALS AND METHODS In five female pigs, a novel ureteral expansion balloon device (Microvasive, MA) was inserted percutaneously and advanced antegrade into the juxtavesical ureter. The device has two channels: one for balloon inflation and the other for draining the kidney. After progressive ureteral expansion over a 3- to 4-week period, laparoscopic augmentation ureterocystoplasty was performed. Animals were euthanized at 15 days (N = 1), 1 month (N = 1), 2 months (N = 1), and 3 months (N = 2). RESULTS Percutaneous balloon device placement was technically successful in all five cases (mean operating room time 52 minutes). The mean volume of the tissue-expanded ureter at 1, 2, and 3 weeks was 12.9 cc, 60.3 cc, and 171.8 cc, respectively. Laparoscopic augmentation ureterocystoplasty with (N = 3) or without (N = 2) concomitant subtotal cystectomy was technically successful in all five cases without any open conversion. The mean operative time was 126.5 minutes, and the mean blood loss was 29 mL. Postoperative complications consisted of one case each of pyelonephritis and ureteral stricture. At autopsy, the mean capacity of the bladder was 574 mL, and the P(ves) at maximum capacity was 14 cm H(2)O. Histologic examination of the tissue-expanded ureter revealed regenerated transitional epithelium and muscle hypertrophy. CONCLUSIONS Chronic ureteral tissue expansion can be carried out safely and efficaciously. The expanded tissue is thick, healthy, and vascular, with histologic features of normal transitional epithelium and muscle hypertrophy and hyperplasia. This expanded ureteral tissue can be used to augment the bladder with laparoscopic techniques. Such augmented bladders do not show significant shrinkage and possess urodynamic characteristic of normal capacity and normal compliance over a follow-up of 3 months.

Laparoscopic nephron-sparing surgery in the presence of renal artery disease

INTRODUCTION To describe the technical considerations of laparoscopic nephron-sparing surgery in 3 complicated cases involving kidneys with renal arterial disease. TECHNICAL CONSIDERATIONS Three candidates for nephron-sparing surgery each had a renal mass, measuring 5.0, 3.5, and 2.5 cm, respectively. The renal arterial pathologic features in the tumor-bearing kidney included renal artery stenosis treated by percutaneous angioplasty and stenting in 1 patient and upper pole intrarenal aneurysm in 1 patient; the final patient had previously undergone aortorenal bypass grafting. The preoperative serum creatinine in the 3 patients was 2.1, 1.0, and 2.5 mg/dL, respectively. Two patients had a solitary functioning kidney. Laparoscopic partial nephrectomy with hilar clamping was performed in 2 patients and laparoscopic renal cryoablation in 1 patient. Laparoscopic Doppler ultrasonography was used in each case. The total operative time for the 3 patients was 2.3, 4.0, and 2.8 hours, respectively. The warm ischemia time in the first 2 cases was 28 and 39 minutes, respectively. The blood loss was 50, 400, and 100 mL. Pathologic examination revealed renal cell carcinoma in 2 cases and a calcified aneurysm in 1 case. The hospital stay was 7, 4, and 2 days. The postoperative serum creatinine level was 2.3, 1.4, and 2.5 mg/dL. CONCLUSIONS Laparoscopic nephron-sparing surgery is a feasible alternative to open partial nephrectomy and can be successfully applied to select patients with a pathologic renal artery.

Laparoscopic Approach to Urinary Stone Disease

Minimally invasive antegrade and retrograde techniques combined with extracorporeal Shockwave lithotripsy (SWL) have virtually eliminated open surgery for stone disease. Success rates for treating renal calculi with the above combination approach 100%. The availability of finer instruments with better optical resolution has made the endourological approach the standard of care today. Nevertheless, there exists a category of stones that fail endourologic therapy and thus are candidates for open surgical intervention.