Complete retroperitoneal laparoscopic nephroureterectomy with bladder cuff excision for upper tract urothelial carcinoma without patient repositioning: a single-center experience

This study was performed to evaluate the outcome of complete retroperitoneal laparoscopic nephroureterectomy with bladder cuff excision (RLNU-BCE), which is performed to treat urothelial carcinomas in the renal pelvis or in the ureter higher than the crossing of the common iliac artery without patient repositioning.

We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 48 patients with upper tract urothelial carcinoma who underwent complete RLNU-BCE in our institution from May 2017 to September 2019.

RLNU-BCE was successfully performed in all 48 patients. The median operation time was 110 minutes [interquartile range (IQR), 100-130 minutes], and the median postoperative anesthesia recovery time was 10 minutes (IQR, 7-15 minutes). The median postoperative hospitalization period was 5 days (IQR, 4-6 days). Pathologic examination revealed that the margin of all resected specimens was negative. After a median follow-up of 13 months (IQR, 7-20 months), no local recurrence or distant metastasis was found. No complications occurred during follow-up.

Based on our experience with this technique, RLNU-BCE deserves application and promotion in clinical practice. Long-term comparative studies are required to confirm its superiority over other techniques.