A comparison between laparoscopic and retroperitoneoscopic approach for partial nephrectomy in children with duplex kidney: a multicentric survey

Purpose: To compare the outcome of laparoscopic and retroperitoneoscopic approach for partial nephrectomy in infants and children with duplex kidneys. Methods: Data of 102 patients underwent partial nephrectomy in a 5-year period using MIS procedures were analyzed. Fifty-two children underwent laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN), and 50 children underwent retroperitoneoscopic partial nephrectomy (RPN). Median age at surgery was 4.2 years. Statistical analysis was performed using χ² test and Student’s t test. Results: The overall complications rate was significantly higher after RPN (15/50, 30 %) than after LPN (10/52, 19 %) [χ² = 0.05]. In LPN group, complications [4 urinomas, 2 symptomatic refluxing distal ureteral stumps (RDUS) and 4 urinary leakages] were conservatively managed. In RPN group, complications (6 urinomas, 8 RDUS, 1 opening of remaining calyxes) required a re-operation in 2 patients. In both groups no conversion to open surgery was reported. Operative time (LPN:166.2 min vs RPN: 255 min; p <0.001) and hospitalization (LPN: 3.5 days vs RPN: 4.1 days; p <0.001) were significantly shorter in LPN group. No postoperative loss of renal function was reported in both groups. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that RPN remains a technically demanding procedure with a significantly higher complications and re-operation rate compared to LPN. In addition, length of surgery and hospitalization were significantly shorter after LPN compared to RPN. LPN seems to be a faster, safer and technically easier procedure to perform in children compared to RPN due to a larger operative space and the possibility to perform a complete ureterectomy in refluxing systems.