Comparison of open surgery versus retroperitoneoscopic approach to chyluria

We compared the clinical effectiveness of renal pedicle lymphatic disconnection for chyluria performed by retroperitoneoscopy and by open surgery.

Three male and 4 female patients 33 to 68 years old (mean age 49) with chyluria underwent retroperitoneoscopic renal pedicle lymphatic disconnection. Chyluria was on the left side in 5 cases and on the right side in 2. Open renal pedicle lymphatic disconnection was performed in 4 men and 2 women 33 to 61 years old (mean age 45.8). Chyluria was on the left and right sides in 3 cases each. Mean operative time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative intestinal function recovery time, intraoperative and postoperative complications, postoperative hospital delay and operative outcome were compared in these 2 groups.

Compared with the open surgery group results in the retroperitoneoscopic group were superior in terms of operative time (42 to 90 minutes, mean +/- SD 65.0 +/- 18.8 versus 120 to 220, mean 156.7 +/- 38.8), intraoperative blood loss (20 to 50 ml., mean 29.3 +/- 10.2 versus 60 to 250, mean 171.7 +/- 76.5), postoperative intestinal function recovery time (24 to 48 hours, mean 36.0 +/- 6.9 versus 24 to 72, mean 54.0 +/- 21.1), intraoperative and postoperative complications, and postoperative hospital stay (3 to 6 days, mean 4.7 +/- 0.7 versus 7 to 9 days, mean 7.8 +/- 1.0). In the open surgery group primary anastomosis was performed in 1 case due to injury to a renal artery branch during the operation. Chyluria resolved the day after surgery in the 2 groups. No obvious complications developed postoperatively. The followup of 2 to 12 months (mean 6.7 +/- 4.0) showed no recurrence of chyluria.

Retroperitoneoscopic renal pedicle lymphatic disconnection completely ligates the lymphatic vessels with minimal invasion, less blood loss, rapid recovery and a good short-term outcome.