Background and aims: In patients with recurrent high grade or muscle-invasive bladder cancer and concomitant upper urinary tract tumors or non-functional kidney laparoscopic radical cystectomy and nephroureterectomy with lomboaortic and pelvic lymph node dissection can be performed. We present our initial experience.
Methods: Between 2018 and 2019, 4 patients underwent laparoscopic radical cystectomy and unilateral nephroureterectomy en bloc resection with lomboaortic and pelvic lymph node dissection. The nephroureterectomy was the first part of the surgery. It was followed by radical cystectomy with lymphadenectomy. All the specimens were removed en bloc in an endobag through a midline incision.
Results: The patients' demographic characteristics and perioperative outcomes were retrospectively collected and evaluated. All surgeries were completed laparoscopically. There was no need for conversion to open surgery. The mean operative time was 286,25 min with minimal blood loss (260 ml). No major complications were reported. The mean follow-up period was 8.75 months.
Conclusion: Laparoscopic radical cystectomy and nephroureterectomy en bloc resection with lomboaortic and pelvic lymph node dissection can be safe and feasible in selected cases as an alternative approach to the open surgery, offering good oncological and functional results.
Keywords: en bloc resection; laparoscopy; pelvic lymph node dissection; radical cystectomy; radical nephroureterectomy.