Laparoscopic nephrectomy for Wilms' tumor

The role of minimally invasive surgery for the treatment of pediatric urological tumors has been limited to biopsies and resection for small neuroblastomas and benign tumors. The purpose of this study is to present the experience of a Brazilian group pioneering laparoscopic nephrectomy for Wilms' tumor. A total of 15 children with unilateral non-metastatic Wilms' tumor were preoperatively treated with vincristine and actinomycin D, and afterwards were submitted to laparoscopic nephrectomy and lymph node sampling. A Veress needle umbilical punction was performed and a four-trocar transperitoneal approach was used. The tumor was extracted inside a plastic bag and without morcellation through a Pfannenstiel incision. In all 15 patients the tumor was completely removed, as well as lymph node samples and no ruptures occurred. A fibrous capsule involved the tumor, making the dissection easy to perform. Intraoperative bleeding was minimal. The postoperative course was free of complications and all the patients were discharged early. No recurrences or long-term complications have been detected in 7-61 months or more of follow-up. We conclude that laparoscopic nephrectomy for Wilms' tumor is a feasible and safe procedure in a selected group of children after chemotherapy. It reproduces all the steps of the open surgical approach required to treat this tumor, with the advantages of a short hospital stay and cosmetically more acceptable incisions.