Comparison of early experience laparoscopic versus open partial nephrectomy in terms of clinical, oncological and renal functional outcomes

Abstract

Objective: Although laparoscopic partial ne- phrectomy (LPN) is minimally invasive, it is also a technically challenging procedure. Currently, open partial nephrectomy (OPN) remains the only alternative in many centers for T1 kidney tu- mors. We reported our initial experience of LPN compared to OPN regarding clinical, oncological findings and renal functions. Material and Methods: Between 2004-2013, 81 patients who underwent OPN (n=55) or LPN (n=26) for clinically T1 renal tumors were in- cluded. Perioperative and postoperative data were compared, retrospectively. Follow-up times for OPN and LPN groups were 72.9± 41.1 and 47.6± 32.4 months, respectively (p<0.05). Results: The mean tumor size and RENAL nephrometry scores were similar for both groups. Zero-ischemia was performed in all of the LPN and 15% of the OPN procedures. Estimated blood loss and perioperative transfusion rates were high- er in OPN group. Complications including grade < 3 and ? 3 did not differ significantly between the groups. The decrease in creatinine-clearance at 6th month was statistically significant in OPN group, while stable in LPN. Positive surgical margin rates were 6.6% for OPN and 17.6% for LPN, p=0.19. One patient in LPN developed local recurrence and underwent nephrectomy. In OPN group,one local recurrence and one distant metastasis were observed in two independent patients. Both pa- tients recieved tyrosine kinase inhibitor. Conclusion: Although LPN is accepted as a technically chal- lenging procedure, LPN provided comparable outcomes to OPN including clinical, oncological findings and renal functions, even in the early learning phase. Zero-ischemia technique for LPN was feasible and safe with favorable perioperative and renal functional outcomes.