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Updated: Aug 8, 2026
Surgical Closure of Equine Abdomen, Prevention, and Management of Incisional Complications
Published on: May 10, 2024
[Complications of retroperitoneal laparoscopy based on a series of 500 cases]
Alexis Demey1, Alexandre de la Taille, Dimitri Vordos
1Service d'Urologie, CHU Henri Mondor, Créteil, France.
Objective:
To evaluate the complications of retroperitoneal laparoscopy for upper urinary tract surgery.
Methods:
From 1994 to 2003, 500 retroperitoneal laparoscopy procedures were performed: 143 radical nephrectomies, 104 simple nephrectomies, 95 adrenalectomies, 47 ureteropelvic junction plasties, 44 partial nephrectomies, 22 nephroureterectomies, 20 cyst resections, 9 diverticulectomies, 8 lymphadenectomies, 4 pyelotomies and 4 ureteric procedures. The standardized technique uses 5 trocars.
Results:
There were 23 conversions (4.60%): 5 for retroperitoneal adhesions, 11 for intraoperative bleeding, 7 for technical impossibility. 14 patients (2.8%) required surgical revision: 5 urinomas and 2 urocutaneous fistulas treated by ureteric drainage, 2 deep abscesses, 2 cases of secondary bleeding, 2 colostomies for gastrointestinal fistula after colonic injury, 1 incisional hernia on a trocar orifice. There were postoperative 2 deaths (0.4%) due to septic shock and haemorrhagic shock. 21 patients (4.2%) presented medical postoperative complications: haematoma, hyperthermia, phlebitis and pulmonary infections. 15 patients (3%) were transfused. The most frequent complications occurred after partial nephrectomies and the most serious complications occurred after radical nephrectomies.
Conclusion:
The complication rate is low. Retroperitoneal laparoscopy allows reproducible and effective upper urinary tract surgery, but it is not recommended in patients with a history of retroperitoneal surgery.
