The role of retroperitoneoscopy in the management of renal and adrenal pathology

Abstract

Objectives: To describe the technique, findings and results of retroperitoneoscopic ablation of recalcitrant renal, giant adrenal and complex peripelvic cysts, and nephrectomy for nonfunctioning congenital anomalous kidneys.

Patients and methods: Nine patients (six men and three women, mean age 56 years, range 44-68, five with renal, two with adrenal and two with peripelvic cysts, diameter 6-14 cm) were treated by retroperitoneoscopic cyst ablation using three 10-mm ports. Six further patients (two male and four female, mean age 24 years, range 13-38) underwent retroperitoneoscopic nephrectomy using three or four ports for anomalous nonfunctioning kidneys; three patients had a pelvic kidney, two a horseshoe kidney and one an iliac kidney. Isthmusectomy was also performed in the patients with horseshoe kidneys.

Results: Retroperitoneoscopic cyst ablation was successful in all nine patients; the mean (range) operative duration was 69 (50-85) min in patients with simple renal and adrenal cysts, and 185 (160-210) min in patients with peripelvic cysts. The mean (range) blood loss was 130 (50-200) mL and hospital stay 2.33 (2-4) days. At the last follow-up, 15-39 months after the procedure, all patients were asymptomatic and satisfied with the outcome, with no recurrence of cysts. Retroperitoneoscopic nephrectomy with isthmusectomy (when applicable) was successful in the six patients with anomalous kidneys, with a mean (range) operative duration of 105 (85-120) min; the mean (range) blood loss was 116 (75-150) mL and the analgesic requirement 208 (150-250) mg of diclofenac sodium. The hospital stay was 2-3 days and the delay before return to preoperative activity 7-14 days.

Conclusions: Retroperitoneoscopic cyst ablation is a safe and effective method to treat symptomatic cysts of the upper urinary tract which are refractory to other forms of management. Dissection is difficult in patients with peripelvic cysts. Retroperitoneoscopic nephrectomy for anomalous kidneys is a challenging procedure because of the abnormal location, anomalous vessels and presence of an isthmus. With advances in laparoscopy and increasing experience, open surgery for such conditions is likely to become obsolete.