Selection of Patients for Hand-Assisted Laparoscopic Surgery

Hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery on a gigantic primary retroperitoneal mature cystic teratoma: A case report

INTRODUCTION

Primary teratomas in the retroperitoneum are rare, incidentally identified in children, and resected using a laparoscopic approach. However, when it increases in size, the laparoscopic approach is technically demanding, leaving a large skin incision for tumor removal.

PRESENTATION OF CASE

The patient was a 20-year-old woman who presented with chronic left flank pain. Abdominal and pelvic computed tomography (CT) revealed a 25-cm wide giant polycystic and solid retroperitoneal tumor containing calcification located in the upper portion of the left kidney, strongly compressing the pancreas and spleen. No other metastatic lesions were observed. Additionally, abdominal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed that the polycystic tumor consisted of serous fluid and fatty components, and bone and tooth components were found in the tumor center. Therefore, the patient was diagnosed with retroperitoneal mature teratoma and a hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery using bikini line skin incision was performed. The specimen was 27 × 25 cm in size, weighing 2512 g. Histology revealed that the tumor was a benign, mature teratoma without a malignant component. The postoperative course was uneventful and the patient was discharged on postoperative day 7. The patient remained healthy without any recurrence and the postoperative scar is barely visible under direct vision.

DISCUSSION

Primary retroperitoneal mature teratomas can enlarge without initially causing symptoms and can be incidentally identified using imaging studies.

CONCLUSION

A hand-assisted laparoscopic approach using a bikini line skin incision is safe, minimally invasive, and provides better cosmesis.

Modified retroperitoneoscopic port sites for surgery of upper urinary tract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Our objective was to introduce our experience using modified retroperitoneoscopic port positions for operations of the upper urinary tract.

METHODS

We designed different trocar positions or incisions according to different surgical procedures and specimen sizes. A total of 116 patients, comprising patients with common adrenal, kidney, and ureter diseases, underwent retroperitoneoscopic operations by use of modified incisions. These patients comprised 23 with adrenal diseases, 84 with kidney diseases, and 9 with ureter diseases. The specimen was retrieved, as much as possible, through a transverse incision to produce a hidden scar after recovery. By contrast, 143 patients underwent the same or similar procedures using classical 3-port incisions. The operative time was defined as the time from skin incision to skin closure.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences in age, estimated blood loss, oral intake, and hospital stay between groups. A significant difference in favor of the modified group was noted with respect to analgesia use (diclofenac sodium, 50 mg vs 100 mg; P<.05) in all 3 modified methods, as well as in cosmetic outcome in the groups undergoing the first modification (score, 8.9±2.2 VS 7.3±2.8; P<.05) and second modification (score, 8.7±2.5 VS 7.1±2.4; P<.05). In addition, the mean operative time in patients undergoing ureter operations was shorter than that in the conventional group using classical 3-port positions (55±11 minutes vs 70±15 minutes, P<.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Our modified retroperitoneoscopic incision is a safe, cosmetic alternative procedure for operations of the upper urinary tract. Different diseases and specimen sizes can be treated with the personalized or suitable incisions that we have introduced.

Technical modifications of hand-assisted retroperitoneoscopic living donor nephrectomy: a single-center experience

OBJECTIVES

To report a single-center experience and technical modifications of hand-assisted retroperitoneoscopic living donor nephrectomy (HARLDN).

METHODS

A total of 78 living donors underwent HARLDN from June 2004 to November 2009. We used a three-port, finger-dissecting, routine retroperitoneal approach. After almost complete mobilization of the kidney, the renal pedicle was dissected to expose the renal vessels. The ureter was dissected and divided at the level of the iliac vessels. An approximately 7-cm Gibson incision was made as the hand-assisted port. The surgeon's hand was introduced through this incision directly. With hand assistance, the renal artery was clipped using two Hem-o-lok clips at the proximal end, and then sheared by scissors without any clips on the kidney side. The renal vein was controlled similarly. Then the kidney was rapidly removed through the incision by hand.

RESULTS

HARLDN was effectively and safely completed in 78 (100%) donors. No conversion to an open operation was necessary. The mean operative time and mean warm ischemic time were 121 minutes (range, 90-134) and 146 seconds (range, 112-247) respectively. The mean blood loss was 61 mL (range, 32-85). Clavien 1 complications including subcutaneous emphysema in 5.1% (4/78). The mean visual analog scales on postoperative days 1 to 5 were: 2.5, 1.2, 0.8, 0.5, and 0.1, respectively. The mean time to resume oral diet was 1.5 days. The mean hospital stay was 4.5 days (range, 4-5). The mean level of postoperative serum creatinines of the donors at 7 days and 1 month thereafter were 1.06 mg/dL (range, 0.74-1.43) and 1.15 mg/dL (range, 0.79-1.61) mg/dL, respectively. The mean level of postoperative serum creatinines of the recipients at 7 days and 1 month were 1.40 mg/dL (range 0.81-1.67) and 1.52 mg/dL (range, 0.76-1.83), respectively. The mean incision length was 6.5 cm (range, 6.0-7.2).

CONCLUSIONS

The modified HARLDN combines the purely laparoscopic technique with quicker, safer organ retrieval by the open access.

Long-term oncologic outcomes of hand-assisted retroperitoneoscopic radical nephrectomy to treat clinically localized renal cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

To evaluate the long-term oncological outcomes of hand-assisted retroperitoneoscopic radical nephrectomy (HARRN) for treating clinically localized renal cell carcinoma.

METHODS

We retrospectively collected and analyzed the data and clinical outcomes of 46 patients who underwent HARRN and 50 patients who underwent conventional open radical nephrectomy (ORN) at our institution for clinical localized renal cell carcinoma (RCC).

RESULTS

The median follow-up period of the HARRN group was 56.5 months (range: 14.6-78.7 months); for the ORN group, the median follow-up period was 110.8 months (range: 15.5-123 months). Patient age, sex, body mass index, pathologic parameters, and classification based on the guidelines of the American Society of Anesthesiologists were not significantly different between the two groups. The HARRN group had a significantly longer operative time (218 minutes vs. 178 minutes, p = 0.003) and less blood loss (203 mL vs. 670 mL, p < 0.001). The complication rates of the ORN and HARRN groups were similar (8% and 4.3%, respectively, p = 0.46). No conversions to an open procedure or intraoperative mortality occurred in the HARRN group. The disease-free and disease-specific survival rates were comparable between the two groups.

CONCLUSION

The results of our study indicate that HARRN is a feasible, minimally invasive treatment for managing clinically organ-confined RCC with a good long-term oncological outcome.

Oncologic Outcome of Hand-Assisted Laparoscopic Radical Nephrectomy

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate and compare the oncologic outcome of hand-assisted retroperitoneoscopic radical nephrectomy (HALS) with that of open radical nephrectomy.

METHODS

The clinical and follow-up data of 123 patients with localized renal cell carcinoma who underwent HALS were retrospectively compared with those of 70 patients who underwent open radical nephrectomy.

RESULTS

No significant differences were found in operating time, complication rates, or transfusion rates between the HALS and open groups. The estimated blood loss was significantly less in the HALS group. The median follow-up period was 41.0 months for the HALS group, significantly shorter than that for the open group (74.5 months). The 3 and 5-year disease-free survival rate for the HALS and open groups was 94% and 92% and 93% and 91%, respectively. The 3 and 5-year cancer-specific survival rate for the HALS and open groups was 96% and 92% and 98% and 94%, respectively. No significant differences were found in the disease-free and cancer-specific survival rates between the two groups. In the HALS group, no significant differences were found in the disease-free survival rate between those undergoing surgery by less-experienced surgeons who had performed laparoscopic nephrectomy on 10 cases or less and those undergoing surgery by more experienced surgeons.

CONCLUSIONS

The oncologic outcome of HALS did not differ much from that of the open approach. Also, the experience of the surgeon did not affect the oncologic outcome. However, extended follow-up is necessary to assess the true oncologic efficacy of HALS.

Laparoscopic surgery: current status, issues and future developments

Laparoscopic surgery has come a long way since its introduction two decades ago. In essence it represents a new era of technology-dependent surgical interventions, and to some extent its future progress depends on the growth of interventional technologies and devices (facilitative, enabling and additive). Laparoscopic surgery has had a significant impact on all surgical disciplines and is now firmly embedded in routine surgical practice. There remain, however, several outstanding issues that need to be addressed. These concern mainly quality assurance, training, resource allocation, assessment of competence and tiers of laparoscopic surgical practice in line with the changing situation facing the next generation of surgeons.

100-MINUTE RETROPERITONEOSCOPIC RADICAL NEPHRECTOMY: A NEW RETROPERITONEAL APPROACH WITH A HAND ASSISTED METHOD

PURPOSE

A new approach for retroperitoneoscopic radical nephrectomy is introduced. The point of our surgical method is the application of a combination of hand assistance and pure laparoscopic procedures with appropriate surgical steps via the retroperitoneal approach. In our early series we had good surgical results and we completed radical nephrectomy in about 100 minutes using this procedure.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 20 consecutive patients with renal cell carcinoma (cT1-2) who were operated on with this surgical method were analyzed. Surgical procedures occurred in 5 steps. In step 1 the retroperitoneal space was created manually from a pararectal incision at the umbilicus level. In step 2 the lateroconal fascia was incised and the renal hilar area was exposed with hand assistance. In step 3 hilar dissection was performed by pure laparoscopic procedure with another surgical instrument inserted from the hand device. Step 4 involved the application of hand assistance again for the quick mobilization of the kidney and adrenal gland. In step 5 the intact surgical specimen was retrieved from the hand device.

RESULTS

Mean operative time and estimated blood loss were 103 +/- 21 minutes (range 70 to 145) and 49 +/- 85 ml (range 5 to 360), respectively. Mean days to oral intake and ambulation were 1.0 and 1.1, respectively. Operative times of the steps of hilar dissection and mobilization of the kidney and adrenal were shorter than in other series performed by standard retroperitoneoscopic radical nephrectomy. Major complications were not experienced. At this point, no metastasis has been experienced.

CONCLUSIONS

Our surgical method may have the benefits of the retroperitoneal approach and hand assistance. The retroperitoneoscopic hand assisted method may be another important option in the 3 major approaches for laparoscopic radical nephrectomy, although longer-term followup is clearly required.