Prospective study comparing two techniques of renal clamping in laparoscopic partial nephrectomy: impact on...

To compare en bloc and artery-only clamping techniques on renal function and perioperative outcomes after laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN).

From March 2003 to December 2008, 205 patients underwent LPN by one surgeon in a single institution. The first 103 LPNs were achieved with artery-only clamping (AO), and the last 102 LPNs were realized under control of the renal hilum (artery and vein [AV] clamping). Renal function was evaluated by creatinine changes, estimation of the glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and assessment of split renal function using renal mercaptoacetyl triglycine-Lasix scintigraphy. Sixty-two of 205 patients had renal scintigraphy before and after surgery.

There was no significant difference between the two groups regarding demographic data and renal mass characteristics. Warm ischemia time (WIT) was higher in the AO group: 30.4 ± 8.2 vs 23.3 minutes ± 10.0 (P<0.0001). The eGFR change was significantly lower in the AV group during the postoperative period: 10.2 mL/min vs 13.7 mL/min (P=0.0472). Operative blood loss, operative time, and complication rate were not statistically different between groups. Average loss of differential function of the operated kidney was 13.6 ± 9.2% for the AO group and 14.3 ± 12.3% for the AV group (P=0.8016). On multivariate analysis, clamping technique was not a predictive factor of renal function reduction.

AV and AO techniques are associated with similar renal function outcomes in patients who were undergoing LPN. In our series, the AV technique was associated with a lower WIT, an important predictor of decrease in renal function.