Laparoscopic nephrectomy for Xanthogranulomatous Pyelonephritis: First surgical outcomes report from Pakistan

Area of Science:

• Urology
• Minimally Invasive Surgery
• Nephrology

Background:

• Xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis (XGPN) is a rare, chronic destructive renal infection.
• Management often involves nephrectomy, with minimally invasive approaches gaining traction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the perioperative and postoperative outcomes of laparoscopic nephrectomy (LN) for xanthogranulomatous pyelonephritis (XGPN).

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of 13 patients who underwent LN for histopathologically confirmed XGPN.
• Analysis of demographics, clinical data, operative details, and postoperative outcomes including complications and readmissions.

Main Results:

• Laparoscopic nephrectomy was successfully completed in all 13 cases with no conversion to open surgery.
• Mean operative time was 194 minutes, with minimal blood loss and a 3-day average hospital stay.
• Postoperative complications occurred in 15.4% of patients, with no 30-day readmissions and 100% survival at one year.

Conclusions:

• Laparoscopic nephrectomy is a feasible, safe, and effective surgical option for managing XGPN.
• The procedure is associated with favorable perioperative and postoperative outcomes in this patient cohort.