Laparoscopic Ureterolithotomy

Laparoscopic renal surgery is well established for the treatment of benign and malignant conditions of the kidney. Now, because of more than 20 years experience, perioperative advantages of laparoscopy with respect to open surgery are widely known. These include shorter hospital stay and convalescence, decreased blood loss, less analgesic requirement, and improved cosmesis.Benefits in terms of overall cost and quality of life have also been established. Moreover, oncologic equivalence has been demonstrated between open and laparoscopic partial and radical nephrectomy and nephroureterectomy for the treatment of renal parenchymal and collecting system malignancies, respectively. For these reasons, the laparoscopic approach is regarded by many to be the standard of care for most renal surgery.

Patients with metastatic disease may also be considered for cytoreductive or palliative nephrectomy. Laparoscopic nephroureterectomy (LNU) is indicated for individuals with transitional cell carcinoma of the renal pelvis and ureter.