Laparoscopic nephroureterectomy: evaluation of first clinical series

Six patients underwent laparoscopic nephroureterectomy as treatment for upper tract transitional cell cancer. Mean operative time was 7.29 h and mean postoperative hospital stay was 4.6 days. In all but 1 case, the cuff of the bladder was obtained using a laparoscopic 12-mm GIA tissue stapler. With follow-up out to 16 months, we have not encountered any complications due to the transvesical staples, such as urine extravasation, stone formation, urinary tract infection or abscess formation. Our initial clinical data indicate that laparoscopic nephroureterectomy, albeit a lengthy procedure, can be performed with minimal morbidity and a short post-operative hospital stay.