Purpose: To identify the factors associated with better outcomes in patients undergoing laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN).
Patients and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of 36 men and 24 women aged 31 to 80 years (mean 60 years) in whom LPN was attempted at our institution over a 3.5-year period. Baseline patient characteristics and operative, pathologic, and postoperative outcomes were analyzed. The median duration of follow-up was 14.2 months (range 1–38 months).
Results: The median pathologic tumor size was 2.1 cm (range 0.7–6.0 cm). Final pathologic review revealed renal-cell carcinoma in 73% of patients. Six patients (10%) required conversion to either an open partial nephrectomy or a laparoscopic radical nephrectomy. Dense perinephric adipose tissue in the setting of a small renal tumor and unanticipated multifocal disease were factors associated with surgical conversion. The median overall estimated blood loss was 112 mL, and the median warm-ischemia time was 30 minutes. Blood loss was greater in patients who did not undergo hilar clamping (467 v 65 mL; P = 0.008).
Conclusion: Factors influencing successful LPN outcomes include selecting a tumor commensurate with the surgeon's laparoscopic experience, performing routine hilar clamping, adjunctive use of hemostatic agents, and renal-parenchymal suture ligation. The presence of thick, fibrotic perinephric fat overlying a small tumor increases the technical difficulty.
