Pneumothorax is a rare complication in laparoscopic renal surgery. However, due to the increasing renal pathologies managed by laparoscopic technique, this infrequent complication is a potential risk. We investigated the incidence rate of this complication in our experience of laparoscopic renal surgery, taking into account the laparoscopic approach, the type of intervention, the character of the pathology (neoplastic or other), the site of the intervention, as well as the localization of the lesion (in case of malignant pathology). About 384 laparoscopic nephrectomies were reviewed at our institution, with a total of four cases (1.04%) of diaphragmatic injury. Diaphragmatic repair was always carried out by intracorporeal suturing, with no complications. Repair of diaphragmatic injuries should always be attempted with intracorporeal suture since this is a safe and effective technique. Then, although in the retroperitoneal approach pneumothorax is more likely, our experience has shown that transperitoneal access is not free from this complication.
Journal of surgical case reports. 2022 Jun 09*** epublish ***
Raffaele Baio, Giovanni Molisso, Christian Caruana, Oliviero Intilla, Umberto Di Mauro, Umberto Pane, Antonio Campitelli, Francesca Pentimalli, Roberto Sanseverino
Department of Medicine and Surgery "Scuola Medica Salernitana", University of Salerno, Baronissi, Salerno, Italy., Department of Urology, Umberto I, Nocera Inferiore, Salerno, Italy., Department of Chemistry, University of Malta, Msida, Malta., Department of Clinical Pathology and Clinical Biochemistry, National Cancer Institute of Naples "Fondazione Giovanni Pascale", Naples, Italy.