Purpose: Traditional treatment of transitional cell carcinoma of the upper urinary tract (UTTCC) has been nephroureterectomy by open surgical techniques, often requiring two incisions. Our experience and technique for hand-assisted laparoscopic nephroureterectomy (HALNU) is reviewed.
Materials and methods: Thirty-two patients had HALNU performed by one of three surgeons from August 1998 to October 2000. The distal ureter and bladder cuff was resected laparoscopically and sutured closed in 15 patients and resected by combined cystoscopic and laparoscopic approach in 17 patients.
Results: The indication for surgery was UTTCC for 29 patients and benign conditions in 2 patients. The mean operating time (including initial cystoscopy) was 372 minutes (281-530), and the mean blood loss was 541 cc (50-3500). The mean hospital stay was 5.5 days (3-12). There were no positive surgical margins, local recurrences, trocar site seeding, or wound seeding.
Conclusions: HALNU is an effective minimally invasive approach for the treatment of UTTCC.