RESUMO
Objective: To analyze the clinical experience of laparoscopic nephrectomy for benign and malignant diseases at a university hospital. Methods: From February 2000 to March 2003, 34 patiems (14 men and 20 women) underwent transperitoneal laparoscopic total nephrectomy at the Hospital das Clinicas - FMRP-USP: 28 (82.3 percent) patients had benign diseases and 6 (17.7 percent) malignant neoplasias. Benign diseases were represented by: urinary stones (N-9, 32.1 percent), chronic pyelonephritis (N-8, 28.6 percent), vesicoureteral reflux (N-4, 14.3 percent), ureteropelvic obstruction (N-3, 10.7 percent), multicystic kidney (N-2, 7.1 percent) and pyonephrosis (N-2, 7.1 percent). Patients age range was 2-79 years (mean - 35,1 years). Results: In 32/34 patients the procedures were accomplished successfully. In 2 (5.8 percent) cases of pyonephrosis, open conversion was necessary due to perinephric abscess and difficulties in dissection of renal hilum. Two patients had intraoperative complications (1 duodenum serous laceration an 1 vascular lesion of renal hilum), but both were managed laparoscopically. Two (5.8 percent) post operative complications (1 delayed bleeding and 1 pancreatic fistula) required open surgical exploration. The mean time of hospital stay was 58h (18 to 240h). Conclusion: Laparoscopic nephrectomy proved to be a method safe and associated with a low rate of morbidity, shorter hospital stay and no casualties.