Laparoscopy-assisted radical nephrectomy without pneumoperitoneum

A small renal cell carcinoma of the right kidney was completely removed from a 59-year-old women by laparoscopic radical nephrectomy without requiring a pneumoperitoneum. A 5-cm midline laparotomy incision was made and 3 small retractors were used for suspending the abdominal wall. Under laparoscopic observation, we safely positioned three trocars. The kidney was then removed en bloc together with the adrenal gland, perinephric fat and Gerota's fascia. The resected mass was enclosed in an entrapment sac and removed via the 5-cm abdominal incision without morcellation of the tissues. Three trocars could be positioned safely under direct observation and there were no adverse hemodynamic or ventilatory effects because the operation was performed without intraperitoneal carbon dioxide insufflation. There were no significant operative or postoperative complications. This procedure appears to be advantageous for the treatment of small renal cell carcinomas.