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Updated: May 10, 2026
Single Port Donor Nephrectomy
Published on: March 12, 2011
Preliminary experience and learning curve for laparoendoscopic single-site retroperitoneal pyeloplasty
Zhenyu Ou1, Lin Qi, Jinrui Yang
1Department of Urology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
Objectives:
To report our preliminary experience and to assess the learning curve for laparoendoscopic single-site retroperitoneal pyeloplasty (LESS-RP) for ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO).
Patients And Methods:
From July 2010 to February 2012, LESS-RP was performed in 27 patients affected with UPJO by a single surgeon. A homemade single-access platform and both conventional and prebent instruments were applied. Patient characteristics and perioperative outcomes were analyzed. The cumulative sum (CUSUM) method was used to evaluate the learning curve.
Results:
The LESS-RP was successfully accomplished in all 27 patients. The mean operative time (OT) was 175.9±22.5 minutes, and the mean estimated blood loss was 83.3±27.1 mL. We used the OT as a proxy to assess the learning curve. The CUSUM learning curve can be divided into two distinct phases: the initial 12 cases and the last 15 cases. There were significant differences in the mean OT (195.6 minutes versus 159.1 minutes, P<.001) and mean estimated blood loss (97.2 mL versus 72.2 mL, P=.014) between the two phases. The two phases did not differ in other parameters.
Conclusions:
LESS-RP is a safe and feasible procedure. The learning curve of a single surgeon suggests that the initial learning phase for LESS-RP can be completed after approximately 12 cases.
