Retroperitoneal Laparoendoscopic Single-site Radical Nephrectomy Using a Low-cost, Self-made Device: Initial Experience with 29 Cases

Objectives: To introduce a low-cost, self-made device for single-port retroperitoneal laparoscopic radical nephrectomy and to evaluate outcomes compared with conventional laparoscopy after initial experience using this device.

Methods: Twenty-nine renal cancer patients underwent retroperitoneal laparoendoscopic single-site radical nephrectomy using a self-made single-port device with multiple manipulation channels for passage of routine laparoscopic instruments and specimen removal. A control group of 29 patients who were matched by age, gender, and cancer stage underwent conventional laparoscopy. Outcomes were analyzed retrospectively.

Results: There were no significant differences in age, gender, body mass index, T stage, and maximum tumor diameter between groups (P > .05). The laparoendoscopic single-site surgery group had a significantly shorter duration of postoperative hospitalization than the conventional laparoscopy group (7.14 ± 1.38 days vs 8.17 ± 1.54 days, P = .009).

Conclusions: Retroperitoneal laparoscopic radical nephrectomy using our self-made single-port device appears to be a feasible, safe, and low-cost surgical strategy.