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Updated: Jul 7, 2026
Single Port Donor Nephrectomy
Published on: March 12, 2011
Use of bone wax during laparoscopic renal ablative procedures: optimizing port utilization and reducing tract-site
Kevin C Zorn1, Ofer N Gofrit, Arieh L Shalhav
1Section of Urology, University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60637, USA. kevinzorn@hotmail.com
Purpose:
We describe the use of a hemostatic wax sealant during laparoscopic renal ablative procedures to allow airtight transabdominal access of the treatment probe through a standard 5-mm port.
Methods:
Following Tru-cut biopsy of the renal mass, Bone Wax was used to occlude the external opening of an established 5-mm laparoscopic port. The cryotherapy or radiofrequency treatment probe was then passed through the waxy material and inserted appropriately into the renal lesion while pneumoperitoneal pressure was maintained.
Results:
In all cases, the Bone Wax provided a sufficient airtight seal to allow use of the 5-mm port during ablative therapy of renal masses.
Conclusions:
Use of Bone Wax during laparoscopic renal ablative surgery allows the use of an established 5-mm port, thus obviating a separate skin incision and reducing the tract-site exposure to the needle probe.
