Tips and tricks of laparoscopic partial nephrectomy

The field of urology has embraced minimally invasive surgical procedures, from endoscopic to laparoscopic to robotic assisted surgery. As these surgical techniques are applied to renal cancer, the oncological outcomes need to be compared to more traditional open surgery. Laparoscopic partial nephrectomy emulates the open surgical technique and has become an alternative to open surgery at many academic centers. Still its wide spread adoption has been limited by the challenges of renal mass extirpation and renal reconstruction in a timely fashion to limit renal ischemia. The following review is designed to assist the urologic surgeon in performing a successful laparoscopic partial nephrectomy by detailing the "tips and tricks" of the procedure.