INTRODUCTION: Nephrectomy is indicated in patients with an irreversibly damaged kidney. The nephrectomy can be performed through open or laparoscopic procedure. Although there is evidence that laparoscopy is the preferred choice, additional evidence is indicated. The purpose of the present investigation was to compare the outcomes of nephrectomy through open and laparoscopic procedures.
METHODS: Between December 2006 and March 2009, 20 patients had laparoscopic nephrectomy and 20 patients had open nephrectomy. The mean patient age was 46.85 years in the group receiving open surgery and 48.15 years in the group receiving laparoscopy, with no significant group difference. Variables included operative time, length of hospitalization, and postoperative duration of nil per os (NPO) state. Complications such as hemorrhage, organ damage, infection, and reoperation were obtained from data in the patient’s medical records. The groups were compared using a t test and chi square.
RESULTS: Mean operative time for open surgery was 176.25 min; mean operative time for laparoscopy was 188.8 min. There was no significant difference in mean operative time between the groups (P = .571). Mean length of hospitalization was significantly longer for patients receiving open surgery than for patients receiving laparoscopy (4.9 days versus 3.45 days, respectively) (P = .004). There were no significant group differences in mean postoperative duration of NPO state for patients receiving open and laparoscopic surgeries (24.6 hours and 28.25 hours, respectively) (P = .542). Operative complications occurred in 6 patients in the open group and in 5 patients in laparoscopic group. There was no significant group difference in complication rates (P = .376).
CONCLUSIONS: The overall outcomes of the two procedures were similar. Laparoscopic nephrectomy, which is a minimal invasive procedure, is a recommended alternative for open surgery.
KEYWORDS: Nephrectomy; Laparoscopic nephrectomy; Open nephrectomy; Radical nephrectomy
CORRESPONDENCE: Ahmad Enshaei MD, Guilan University of Medical Sceinces, Urology Research Center, Razi Hospital, Sardare Jangal Street, Rasht, Iran ( ).
CITATION: Urotoday Int J. 2010 Feb;3(1).
doi:10.3834/uij.1944-5784.2010.02.01