[Retroperitoneal laparoscopic surgery. Experience at the Hospital Universitario La Paz]

With the popularisation of laparoscopic radical prostatectomy, the above technique has once again taken on an important role in the work of urology departments. Our extensive experience in laparoscopy means that we are performing increasingly more interventions using this approach. In the context of minimally invasive surgical procedures, this is probably bringing clearer benefits to retroperitoneal surgery than to prostatic surgery. In this article, we describe our series over nearly 4 years.

The period analysed covers June 2004 to March 2008, during which time 288 retroperitoneal operations were performed (184 nephrectomies, 113 other procedures). In the majority of cases, the route of approach was transperitoneal.

The mean hospital stay was 3.6 days for the nephrectomies and 3 days for the other procedures. The transfusion rate for the nephrectomies was 5% and there was a conversion rate of in 2%. In the other types of surgery, the transfusion rate was 6% and there were no conversions.

The expansion of laparoscopy in Urology has to be accompanied good patient selection and the progressive acquiring of experience on the part of the surgeon. Certain interventions should only be tackled in cases where there is extensive experience.