[Retroperitoneal laparoscopic nephrectomy: a case report]

Presentation of the first exclusively retroperitoneal laparoscopic nephrectomy performed on a female patient diagnosed with chronic pyelonephritis in the right kidney who referred frequent discomfort in the ipsilateral lumbar fossa as well as sporadic urinary infections. The entire procedure was performed without entering the peritoneal cavity, creating a space in the retroperitoneum, using for that hydrostatic dilation following Gaur's recommendations and introducing in that space a total of 4 trocars. Surgery lasted 3 hours an 35 minutes, with a post-operative stay of 3 days; the anaesthetics used after surgery was minimum and patient's return to her usual daily activities was almost immediate after discharge. Considering our group's previous experience in laparoscopic nephrectomies, both in humans (another 3 cases) and experimental surgery (18 pigs), we believe retroperitoneal approach is a huge step ahead in urological laparoscopic surgery, since this is the typical approach in our specialty and allows a closer contact with the condition being treated. On the other hand, the combined retro- and transperitoneal accesses will involve-are already involving-a greater variety of laparoscopic techniques in urology.