Renal trauma in the multiple injured patient.

Immediate radiological evaluation of renal injuries by a large dose or infusion excretory urogram resulted in a definitive diagnosis in 87% of the cases. Further radiological evaluation or exploration was required to make a definitive diagnosis in the remaining 13%. Blunt external trauma was responsible for 94% of the renal injuries. Less morbidity and a sharp reduction in delayed renal operation followed the introduction of immediate surgical management with the more severe types of renal injury. Clamping of the renal vessels prior to opening Gerota's fascia prevents reactivation of hemorrhage and allows for a deliverate operation with conservation of undamaged renal tissue. Associated injuries were present in 73% of the patients, including intra-abdominal injuries in 42%. The over-all nephrectomy rate of 5% in this study compares favorably to the nephrectomy rate in studies reporting the expectant management of renal injuries.     

后腹腔镜下解剖性根治性肾切除术168例

目的 介绍后腹腔镜下解剖性根治性肾切除术的手术方法及临床效果. 方法对168例肾癌患者实施后腹腔镜下解剖性根治性.肾切除术.肿瘤位于左肾87例,右肾81例.肿瘤直径2.0～6.9 cm,平均4.7 cm.T1.N0M0 92例,T10N0M0.76例.常规制备后腹腔间隙.按顺序分别进入4个相对无血管解部层面进行分离.第一分离层面位于腰肌前间隙,此层面可以在手术初期快速找到肾蒂;第__二分离层面位于Gerota筋膜前叶与融合筋膜之间;第三分离层面位于肾上腺与肾上极之间或膈肌与肾上腺间隙;第四分离层面位丁Gerota筋膜的锥尖部. 结果 168例手术均成功完成,平均手术时间(138±46)min,平均术中出血量(90±30)ml.恢复饮食和下床活动时间分别为1.3 d和1.2 d.术后平均住院日5.8 d.14例发生腹膜破口,未影响手术进行.18例术后有不同程度肩痈,2 d后自行消失.123例随访6～18个月,平均8个月,均无瘤生存. 结论 后腹腔镜下解削性根治性肾切除术具有解剖层次清楚、术中出血少、术野清晰、疗效确切、并发症少、恢复快等优点,为需要根治性肾切除术的患者提供了更好的选择.     

The role of nephrectomy in the acutely injured

HYPOTHESIS: The high mortality in patients who undergo nephrectomy after trauma is not secondary to the nephrectomy itself but is the consequence of a more severe constellation of injuries associated with renal injuries that require operative intervention. DESIGN: A retrospective review of all patients identified using International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision codes as having sustained renal injuries over a 62-month period. PATIENTS: Seventy-eight patients with renal injuries who underwent exploratory laparotomy were identified. METHODS: All medical records were reviewed for patient management, definitive care, and outcome. Based on outcome, patients were assigned to either the survivor or nonsurvivor group. For patients who underwent nephrectomy, intraoperative core temperature changes, estimated blood loss, and operative time were also reviewed. RESULTS: Seventy-eight patients with renal injuries who underwent exploratory laparotomy were identified. Twenty-nine patients underwent laparotomy with conservative management of the renal injury, of whom 5 (17.2%) died. Twelve patients had renal injuries repaired and all survived. Thirty-seven patients underwent nephrectomy, of whom 16 (43.2%) died. Compared with nephrectomy survivors, nephrectomy nonsurvivors had a significantly lower initial systolic blood pressure, higher Injury Severity Score, higher incidence of extra-abdominal injuries, shorter operative duration, and higher estimated operative blood loss. The nephrectomy survivors' core temperature increased a mean of 0.5 degrees C in the operating room, while the nephrectomy nonsurvivors' core temperature cooled a mean of 0.8 degrees C. CONCLUSIONS: Patients who undergo trauma nephrectomy tend to be severely injured and hemodynamically unstable and warrant nephrectomy as part of the damage control paradigm. That a high percentage of patients die after nephrectomy for trauma demonstrates the severity of the overall constellation of injury and is not a consequence of the nephrectomy itself.     

Anatomic considerations in extraperitoneal approach to radical nephrectomy

The interrelationship between the lateral and posterior portions of the peritoneum and Gerota's fascia allows them to be separated from each other, permitting ready visualization of the major renal vessels. The posterior relationship between Gerota's fascia and the transversalis fascia overlying the more posterior psoas muscle can be used to advantage in exposing the renal vessels posteriorly. That the fascial layers defining the retroperitoneal spaces might therefore be used in dissecting the renal hilum and vessels in the performance of radical nephrectomy prompted the present investigation. Twenty patients underwent this approach for radical nephrectomy for varying stages of renal cell carcinoma involving either upper, mid, or lower portion of right or left kidney. Postoperative recovery appeared to be shortened because of the lesser interval of ileus than had previously been encountered using a transperitoneal approach. Despite the minimal manipulation of the kidney prior to ligation of the renal vessels, there was no apparent increased tumor dissemination as detected clinically, and experimentally there appeared to be no increase in tumor cells in the venous effluent. Operative time, blood loss, and postoperative complications were comparable to those reported for the transperitoneal approach. This means of performing radical nephrectomy, based on the relationship of fascial layers in the retroperitoneum thus appeared to lend itself to easier dissection as well as lesser postoperative ileus and corresponding shorter hospital stays.     

Clinical use of the holmium: YAG laser in laparoscopic partial nephrectomy

PURPOSE: To report on the technique and utility of the holmium: YAG laser in performing laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Three patients with indications for LPN (complex cyst, nonfunctioning lower pole, renal mass) underwent parenchymal-sparing procedures with the Ho:YAG laser. The kidney was identified using a transperitoneal laparoscopic technique. Gerota's fascia was opened, and the renal mass/nonfunctioning lower pole was resected using the laser. Settings of 0.2 J/pulse at 60 pulses/sec and 0.8 J/pulse at 40 pulses/sec were used. RESULTS: All three procedures were performed successfully with minimal blood loss and without the need for hilar occlusion. Although the laser alone was hemostatic, fibrin glue was applied in two cases and oxidized cellulose in one case to reinforce the tissue against delayed bleeding. There were no perioperative complications, and all patients left the hospital within 3 days. CONCLUSIONS: At high power settings, the Ho:YAG laser is an effective tool for LPN. It results in good hemostasis without the need for hilar occlusion. This technique promises to facilitate the laparoscopic management of renal tumors and nonfunctioning moieties of duplicated systems.     

Translumbar radical nephrectomy of renal cell carcinoma

We invented a new surgical approach to the kidney through the flank to perform a radical nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma. With the patient in usual lateral decubitus position keeping the dorsum vertical to the operating table, a skin incision is made over the XII rib from the posterior axillary line to the lateral edge of the rectus muscle. After the tip of XII rib is resected by about 5 cm, the retroperitoneal space is entered. Blunt dissection of the posterior aspect of Gerota's fascia from fasciae of the quadratus lumborum and psoas muscle is easily carried out with a liver retractor or intestinal spatula. The pulsating renal artery can be identified through Gerota's fascia when the renal hilus is exposed. Following ligation and division of the artery, renal vein is exposed. On the left side, adrenal, gonadal and occasionally lumbar veins are also ligated and severed in addition to the renal vein. Then, the kidney in Gerota's fascia is removed en bloc with perinephric adipose tissue and adrenal gland. Of 21 patients with renal cell carcinoma seen during 1 year and 3 months from June 1987, 11 underwent this operation, and other 10 patients transperitoneal radical nephrectomy because of the possible tumor extension into the renal vein, inferior vena cava or adjacent organ, the severe spinal deformity or metastases and the necessity of additional surgical procedures for concomitant benign intraperitoneal diseases. The blood loss was smaller and operating time was shorter significantly in the translumbar group than the evaluable transperitoneal group. None of those in the translumbar group received blood transfusion. As complications, pneumothorax due to pleural injury during operation and postoperative incisional hernia occurred each in one patient, but no other serious one was found. From the above results, this approach seems to be one of choices for the surgical treatment of renal cell carcinoma, as long as the tumor is not likely to extend to adjacent organs, ipsilateral nodes or the inferior vena cava.     

后腹腔镜下解剖性肾切除术405例经验总结

目的 探讨后腹腔镜下解剖性肾切除术的安全性和有效性,规范后腹腔镜下肾切除术术式. 方法回顾性分析后腹腔镜下解剖性肾切除术405例患者资料.男232例,女173例.平均年龄(57.2±14.2)岁.肾癌行后腹腔镜下根治性肾切除术228例,肾盂癌及输尿管癌分别行后腹腔镜下肾输尿管全长切除术96例及49例,肾脏良性疾病致肾功能丧失行后腹腔镜下肾切除术32例.根治性切除在Gerota筋膜外进行,切除界限背侧为Gerota筋膜与侧椎筋膜问、腹侧为Gerota筋膜与肾前融合筋膜间的潜在间隙;良性肾切除则直接切开Gerota筋膜,于Gerota筋膜与肾周脂肪囊问的疏松纤维组织间进行游离.在肾脏外周数个相对无血管平面间进行分离、切割,完整切除肾脏、肾周脂肪囊. 结果后腹腔镜下根治性肾切除术和单纯肾切除术平均手术时间(132±48)min,肾盂癌和输尿管癌平均手术时间(245±62)min.失血量中位值100(10～2500)ml,术后引流量中位值150(0～1152)ml.输血15例(3.70%),输血量中位值400(400～1650)ml.中转开放4例(0.99%),黏连严重2例,肾蒂暴露困难及出血各1例.平均拔管时间(3.9±1.8)d,术后平均进食时间(2.7±1.2)d,术后平均住院日(8.6±3.8)d. 结论后腹腔镜下解剖性肾切除术利用后腹腔镜下的放大优势,在肾脏周围的数个相对无血管平面进行游离,解剖层次清楚,符合外科原则,手术时间短,出血量较少,术后引流量较少,是后腹腔镜下肾切除的首选术式和发展方向.     

Long-term outcome of nephron sparing surgery and simple nephrectomy for unilateral localized Wilms tumor

PURPOSE: We retrospectively assessed survival and local recurrence rates in children with unilateral localized Wilms tumor (WT) treated with nephron sparing surgery (NSS) or simple nephrectomy with removal only of the perirenal fat adherent to the tumor surface. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The records of 70 children with renal tumor, operated on by the same surgeon between January 1968 and December 2003, were reviewed. Of 64 children with WT 52 with localized nonanaplastic WT were enrolled. Treatment was administered according to International Society of Pediatric Oncology protocols 1 to 2001 in all patients but 7, who were operated on between 1968 and 1971. Patients were stratified as having stage I (27), stage II (23) or stage III (2) disease. Surgical treatment included 40 simple nephrectomies, 10 NSSs (only stage I cases ascertained by frozen section) and 2 radical nephrectomies. Mean patient age at operation was 39.5 months (range 1 to 126). Followup ranged from 27 to 431 months (mean 188.4). RESULTS: Event-free survival rate in all localized stages was 88.5% (stage I 92.6%, stage II 87%, stage III 50%). Two infants with stage I disease died after surgery for reasons not related to malignancy. Only 1 patient with stage II lymph node negative WT had local relapse. CONCLUSIONS: Our results are similar to those achieved by radical nephrectomy in previous studies. Leaving Gerota's fascia in situ does not seem to confer a higher risk of local recurrence in patients with low stage nonanaplastic WT. After NSS Gerota's fascia may be used to cover the defect and to maintain tissue plains, thus, facilitating reintervention if necessary.     

Immediate surgical management of severe renal injuries in multiple-injured patients

Between 1969 and 1980, 1,132 renal injuries were recorded in 1,120 patients. Of the 129 patients with a severe renal injury (laceration, rupture, pedicle injury), 118 (91%) had associated injuries and 101 (86%) required an immediate laparotomy by general surgeons for intra-abdominal injury. Immediate surgical management was performed on 90 severe renal injuries and resulted in a nephrectomy rate of 5 of 55 lacerations (9%), 16 of 17 ruptures (94%), and 10 of 18 pedicle injuries (56%). Seven of the 18 pedicle injuries (39%) had immediate repair with salvage of the kidney. Conservative management was done on 32 severe renal injuries. Autopsy revealed 10 severe renal injuries in 9 patients who died in the operating room or on admission. A delayed renal operation was required in 9 (28%), and total renal loss (nephrectomy plus main renal artery injury) occurred in 7 of the 32 cases (22%). The severe degrees of renal injury did not all resolve spontaneously. Immediate surgical management of the patient with a severe renal injury resulted in a nephrectomy rate comparable with that of conservatively managed renal injuries.     

Renal trauma found during laparotomy for intra-abdominal injury

Whether renal injury found during a laparotomy for intra-abdominal injury should have surgical or nonsurgical management is controversial. Five hundred twenty-one renal injuries were found during laparotomy for such injury in 513 patients. Blunt external trauma was the cause in 88%. A modified operating room table enabled performance of immediate intravenous pyelogram during the laparotomy. More severe degrees of renal injury (laceration, rupture, pedicle injury) were present in 135 (26%) of the renal injuries. Immediate surgical management of 102 more severe renal injuries resulted in nephrectomies in 37 (36%), delayed renal surgery in one (0.9%), and renal salvage in five of 18 (27%) main renal artery and/or vein injuries. Nonsurgical management of the remaining 23 resulted in nephrectomies in three (13%), delayed renal surgery in six (26%), total renal loss in seven of seven (100%) main renal artery injuries and an overall nephrectomy/total renal loss rate of 39%. With immediate surgical management of the more severe degrees of renal injury there was a slight increase in the salvage of kidneys and a marked decrease in delayed renal surgery and morbidity.     

Renal failure and mortality after nephrectomy for severe trauma in multiply-injured patient: no inordinate risk

It was recently reported that renal loss by partial or total nephrectomy for renal trauma increases the rates of acute renal failure and death in the multiply-injured patient. Because our preference has been for immediate surgical intervention in such patients, a retrospective review was performed to ascertain the effect of partial or total nephrectomy. Eighty-eight patients met the criteria of multiple injuries including severe renal injuries (laceration, rupture, or pedicle injury) and availability of renal function data. Partial or total nephrectomy had been performed in 50 patients, renorrhaphy in 23, and 15 were managed without renal operation. In patients with renal lacerations, the numbers of associated injuries (including intra-abdominal injuries) were similar to those managed conservatively or by operation, and the rates of acute renal failure and mortality were the same with conservative management, renorrhaphy, or nephrectomy. Patients with renal pedicle injuries who had a nephrectomy did have a higher rate of acute renal failure than those managed conservatively (75% vs 0%; p less than 0.05), but they also had more associated injuries (2.8 vs. 1.6/patient; p less than 0.04) and they were older. These two factors, rather than the nephrectomy, probably accounted for the greater rates of acute renal failure and death.     

经腹肾癌扩大根治术

报告４３例经腹肾癌扩大根治术，整块切除肾周筋膜及其内容物，大范围系统的长度清扫腹膜后淋巴结。淋巴结阳性检出率１３．９５％。５年生存率Ⅰ－Ⅱ期８２．６％，Ⅲ期４４．４％，无手术死亡。该术式与其它根治术式相比，手术难度、手术残废率和术后并发症不增加，远期效果良好。认为肾癌根治术时应行扩大的淋巴清扫术。     

Renal trauma in multiple-injured child

Between 1959 and 1981, 251 renal injuries occurred in 248 children up to the age of sixteen years. Of the 36 children with renal laceration, rupture, or pedicle injury, 35 (97%) had associated injuries; 31 of these children (89%) with associated injuries required an immediate laparotomy by general surgeons for intra-abdominal injury. Immediate surgical management was performed on 27 severe renal injuries and resulted in nephrectomy in 3 of 20 renal lacerations (15%), in 4 of 4 ruptures (100%), and in 1 of 3 pedicle injuries (33%). Two of the 3 pedicle injuries (67%) had immediate repair with salvage of the kidney. Conservative management was carried out in 10 severe renal injuries. Delayed renal surgery was required in 3 cases (30%) and total renal loss (nephrectomy plus main renal artery injury) occurred in 5 of the 10 cases (50%). The severe degrees of renal injury did not all settle by themselves. Immediate surgical management of the patient with a severe renal injury resulted in a nephrectomy rate comparable with that of conservatively managed renal injuries.     

后腹腔镜下根治性肾切除术及其应用解剖学研究

目的 总结后腹腔镜下根治性肾切除术,并对镜下肾周区域相关解剖结构进行研究.方法 2006年1月至2008年3月行后腹腔镜下根治性肾切除术85例.肿瘤位于左肾38例,右肾47例;肿瘤直径2.5～10.5 cm,平均(5.5±1.7)cm;T1N0Mo 74例,T2:N0M0 11例.根据肾筋膜外切除原则,在"两个间隙、上下两极间"分离切除患肾,腹侧为肾旁前间隙(后腹膜与肾前筋膜之间),背侧为腰肌前间隙(肾后筋膜与腰肌筋膜之间),上极达膈下,下方到髂窝.术中辨认重要的解剖结构:后腹膜及其返折、肾前筋膜、侧锥筋膜、肾后筋膜、腰大肌及重要血管. 结果 除1例因与周围粘连严重中转开放手术外,其余均获得成功.手术时间50～165 min,中位数65 min.估计失血量25～600ml,中位数58 ml.术中腹膜破裂5例,肾蒂周围小血管损伤出血6例,无重要脏器及大血管损伤.术后平均随访10(2～25)个月,均无瘤生存,无局部复发或发生穿刺通道种植转移. 结论 后腹腔镜下根治性肾切除术时,熟悉重要的镜下解剖结构有利于提高手术安全性、减少副损伤.     

Renal reconstruction after injury

During an 11-year period 1,363 patients presented to our institution with renal trauma. Renal exploration was performed in 127 patients (133 renal units). Most patients had multiple organ injuries, as indicated by a mean blood loss of 4,160 ml. and a mean injury severity score of 25.8. Absolute indications for exploration were bleeding and pulsatile perirenal hematoma and relative indications included urinary extravasation, nonviable renal tissue and incomplete staging. Renal surgery was required in 2.4% of the blunt injuries, 45% of the stab wounds and 76% of the gunshot wounds. Salvage was successful in 88.7% of the kidneys explored and total nephrectomy was required in 11.3%. The success rate was based on early vascular control and reconstructive techniques of "renorrhaphy," partial nephrectomy, vascular repair and coverage with omental pedicle flaps. Complications occurred in 9.9% of the cases but none resulted in renal loss. When indicated, renal exploration after trauma is safe and in a high percentage of cases reconstruction will be successful.     

Laparoscopic radical nephrectomy for renal cell carcinoma--transperitoneal anterior approach

PURPOSE: To evaluate the usefulness of transperitoneal anterior approach in laparoscopic radical nephrectomy for patients with renal cell carcinoma. MATERIAL: Ten patients (Eight males and two females) with small renal cell carcinoma less than 7 cm in diameter were treated with laparoscopic radical nephrectomy between June 1997 and May 1999. Clinical stage was T1aN0M0 in 6 cases and T1bN0M0 in 4 cases. METHOD: Of the 10 patients, the initial four received preoperative embolization of the renal artery. Under general anesthesia laparoscopic radical nephrectomy via transperitoneal anterior approach was performed in all patients. This procedure facilitates initiated early access to the renal vessels as does open radical nephrectomy. The kidney was dissected en bloc with Gerota's fascia and delivered from the small skin incision without morcellation. RESULT: Two patients needed conversion to open surgery. The mean operating time of eight patients except for conversion cases was 247 minutes and the mean blood loss was 258 ml. There was no major complication associated with laparoscopic procedure. CONCLUSION: Transperitoneal anterior approach in laparoscopic radical nephrectomy is a suitable and useful procedure for the treatment of small renal cell carcinoma because it enables us to avoid possible tumor manipulation by early access to the renal vessels as open radical nephrectomy.     

Renal pedicle injury in patients with multiple injuries

In a study of 41 patients seen over 24 years, renal pedicle injuries were associated with life-threatening multiple system injuries and the immediate surgical management of these associated injuries by general surgeons took precedence over that of the renal pedicle injury. The result was the delayed diagnosis of the renal pedicle injury with loss of function of the kidney. In an effort to improve the renal salvage rate aggressive management of renal pedicle injuries with immediate radiologic evaluation and early surgical treatment was instituted in 1969. The records of 41 renal pedicle injuries from 1959 to 1983 were evaluated. Blunt external trauma was the cause in 76%. All 41 patients had multiple system injuries, averaging 3.7 associated injuries per patient, with 35 (85%) having a laparotomy for intra-abdominal injuries and an overall mortality rate of 44%. Conservative management was followed in 13 patients, with injury to the renal artery in nine and a branch of the renal artery in four, with a renal loss/delayed nephrectomy rate of nine of nine (100%) renal artery injuries. Immediate surgical management was performed in 23 patients, with injury to the renal artery in nine, the renal artery and renal vein in four, a branch of the renal artery in two, and the renal vein in eight, with a renal salvage rate of seven of 21 (33%) renal artery and/or vein injuries. Five patients died on admission or on the operating room table. A significant renal salvage rate resulted from immediate radiologic evaluation and early surgical treatment of renal artery/vein injuries compared to zero salvage rate with conservative management.     

Laparoscopic partial nephrectomy with clamping of the renal parenchyma: initial experience

OBJECTIVES: Partial nephrectomy by laparoscopy offers patients conservative surgery and a mini-invasive approach; however, clamping of the renal pedicle and the induced warm ischaemia can damage the renal parenchyma. We present a technique of laparoscopic partial nephrectomy with haemostasis obtained by clamping of the renal parenchyma. METHODS: The procedure was performed by an intraperitoneal or a retroperitoneal approach. After a working space is created by pneumodissection, Gerota's fascia is incised and the kidney convexity is dissected. An endoscopic Satinsky clamp is inserted percutaneously through a 1-cm incision. The renal parenchyma is clamped and the tumour is excised in a bloodless field. The cut renal parenchyma is coated with biologic glue. RESULTS: Five patients with elective indications were operated. Mean age was 67.8 yr and mean tumour diameter 3.06 cm. One lesion was located at the upper pole and four at the lower pole. Mean preoperative serum creatinine level was 10.9 mg/l. Postoperative serum creatinine level was unchanged. Mean operative time was 238 min. There was no conversion. Mean blood loss was 250 ml; no transfusions were necessary. The collecting duct system was repaired in one patient. No complication was noticed. Resection margins were tumour free in all cases. Final pathologic examination revealed clear cell carcinoma in three cases and angiomyolipoma and oncocytoma in one case each. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic partial nephrectomy with clamping of the renal parenchyma can be performed in selected patients with peripherally placed tumours. The procedure avoids warm ischaemia of the normal parenchyma while allowing the surgeon to operate in an almost bloodless field. This initial experience in five patients should be validated in a larger series.     

Predictors of the need for nephrectomy after renal trauma

BACKGROUND: Initial management of solid organ injuries in hemodynamically stable patients is nonoperative. Therefore, early identification of those injuries likely to require surgical intervention is key. We sought to identify factors predictive of the need for nephrectomy after trauma. METHODS: This is a retrospective review of renal injuries admitted over a 12-year period to a Level I trauma center. RESULTS: Ninety-seven patients (73% male) sustained a kidney injury (mean age, 27 +/- 16; mean Injury Severity Score, 13 +/- 10). Of the 72 blunt trauma patients, 5 patients (7%) underwent urgent nephrectomy, 3 (4%) had repair and/or stenting, and 89% were observed despite a 29% laparotomy rate for associated intraabdominal injuries in this group. Twenty-five patients with penetrating trauma underwent eight nephrectomies (31%), one partial nephrectomy, and two renal repairs. Regardless of the mechanism of injury, patients requiring nephrectomy were in shock, had a higher 24-hour transfusion requirement, and were more likely to have a high-grade renal laceration (all p < 0.05). Bluntly injured patients requiring nephrectomy had more concurrent intraabdominal injuries (p < 0.0001). Overall, patients after penetrating trauma were more severely injured, had higher 24-hour transfusion requirements, and a higher nephrectomy rate (all p < 0.05). Despite a higher injury severity in the penetrating group, however, mortality was higher in the bluntly injured group (p < 0.0001). Univariate predictors for nephrectomy included: revised trauma score, injury severity score, Glasgow Coma Scale score, shock on presentation, renal injury grade, and 24-hour transfusion requirement. No patient with a mild or moderate renal injury required nephrectomy, whereas 6 of 12 (50%) grade 4 injuries and 7 of 8 (88%) grade 5 injuries required nephrectomy. Multiple logistic regression analysis confirmed penetrating injury, renal injury grade, and Glasgow Coma Scale score as predictive of nephrectomy. CONCLUSION: Overall, injury severity, severity of renal injury grade, hemodynamic instability, and transfusion requirements are predictive of nephrectomy after both blunt and penetrating trauma. Nephrectomy is more likely after penetrating injury.     

Absence of Gerota's fascia in pelvic ectopic kidney: implications in laparoscopic radical nephrectomy

We report the anatomic alterations in pelvic ectopic kidney and its bearing on the performance of laparoscopic radical nephrectomy (LRN) and its likely effect on the ultimate oncologic outcome. A patient with Stage T2N0M0 renal tumor in a pelvic kidney underwent transperitoneal LRN. LRN was performed by mobilizing the specimen with an adequate amount of perirenal fat, because no distinct Gerota's fascia can be found in the pelvic kidney. At 1 year of follow-up, the patient was free of disease. LRN is a good option for managing localized renal tumor even in the pelvic kidney. The impact of the absence of Gerota's fascia in the pelvic kidney needs further evaluation.