Laparoscopic partial nephrectomy using FloSeal for hemostasis: technique and experiences in 102 patients

The authors report their techniques, perioperative data, and oncological outcome for laparoscopic partial nephrectomy in a single-center experience with 3 different surgeons.

A total of 102 consecutive patients underwent laparoscopic transperitoneal partial nephrectomy for exophytic tumors using FloSeal for hemostasis. Mean age was 58 years (range = 26-79 years), and median tumor size was 2.6 cm (range = 0.5-8.5 cm). In 84 cases, the renal artery was clamped using endoscopic bulldog clamps, and tumor resection was performed using scissors or the harmonic scalpel. Hemostasis was achieved by application of FloSeal; lesions of the collecting system were closed with Lahodny sutures in 33 cases (31%). Frozen sections were obtained for margin status.

All 102 procedures were successful with no intraoperative complications. Mean surgical time was 201 minutes (range = 60-355 minutes); clamping time was 25.8 minutes (range = 6-75 minutes) in 64 cases. Margins were negative in 92 cases; in 8 cases secondary resection was necessary to achieve negative margin status, and in 2 cases radical nephrectomy was performed. Histological findings were clear-cell carcinoma in 51 (50.0%), papillary carcinoma in 26 (25.5%), and others in 25 (24.5%) cases. At a mean follow-up of 32 months (12-62 months), no recurrence was observed.

Laparoscopic partial nephrectomy with the use of FloSeal is a feasible and safe method for treatment of small renal masses. The technique is reproducible by surgeons who are used to complex laparoscopic procedures. Patient outcome during follow-up was comparable with data published for open standard procedures.