Laparoscopic nephrectomy and nephroureterectomy for renal and upper tract transitional cell cancer

The best management for renal tumors is surgical excision. The laparoscopic technique of radical or total nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma and radical nephroureterectomy for transitional cell carcinoma is rapidly gaining momentum as an effective method of extirpative surgery. The transperitoneal and retroperitoneal approach to either of these procedures is proving to be equally effective to open surgery with respect to tumor removal, providing similar disease-free rates. Laparoscopic surgery leads to a significantly lower intraoperative blood loss, postoperative analgesic requirement, and quicker convalescence. Presently the only drawbacks to laparoscopic surgery are longer operative times and higher costs. Fortunately, these factors are slowly approaching those of open surgery because of increased experience, improved instrumentation, and modification of the surgical technique.