经腹入路一站式腹腔镜肾脏-输尿管-膀胱袖状切除术治疗上尿路尿路上皮癌的临床研究

目的:探讨完全腹腔镜下经腹入路一站式肾脏-输尿管-膀胱袖状切除术治疗上尿路尿路上皮癌(UTUC)的手术技巧和临床效果。方法:2015年2月～2018年5月我院通过影像学检查或输尿管镜活检确诊的17例UTUC患者行完全腹腔镜下经腹入路一站式肾脏-输尿管-膀胱袖状切除手术。采取健侧60°卧位,放置5个Trocar,先行患侧根治性肾切除,然后沿输尿管向下游离至输尿管膀胱入口处,再将输尿管开口周围膀胱壁作袖状切除,缝闭膀胱切口。结果:17例手术均获成功,无中转开放,手术时间110～150min,平均125min;术中出血80～200ml,平均120ml;术后住院6～14d,平均8d;术后漏尿1例,引流后自愈。术后随访6～45个月,其中术后漏尿患者于术后9个月发现对侧输尿管口周围尿路上皮癌复发,行经尿道膀胱肿瘤电切术(TURBt),随访至今未见复发;失访3例,其余病例未见术中术后并发症,未见肿瘤复发及转移。结论:经腹入路一站式腹腔镜肾脏-输尿管-膀胱袖状切除术治疗UTUC安全可行,术中无需变换体位就能完成从肾脏到输尿管全段和膀胱袖状切除,是一种值得推广的手术方法。     

后腹腔镜联合尿道电切镜根治性肾输尿管切除治疗上尿路移行细胞癌(附16例报告)

目的 探讨后腹腔镜联合尿道电切镜根治性肾输尿管切除治疗上尿路移行细胞癌的方法和临床疗效. 方法 对10例肾盂癌、6例输尿管上中段移行细胞癌先采用尿道电切镜行患侧输尿管口膀胱黏膜袖套状切除,而后行后腹腔镜根治性肾输尿管全切术. 结果 16例手术均获成功,平均手术时间120 min,术中出血平均80 ml,患者均于术后36～48 h下床活动,术后住院时间8～14 d(平均9.4 d),术后随访膀胱局部复发2例. 结论 后腹腔镜联合尿道电切镜根治性肾输尿管切除治疗上尿路肿瘤是一种安全、有效的微创手术方法,实用性较强,具有良好的应用前景.     

后腹腔镜肾输尿管全长与膀胱袖状切除术的三种术式比较（附110例报告）

目的：探讨后腹腔镜肾输尿管全长与膀胱袖状切除的最佳手术方式.方法：对110例肾盂或输尿管癌伴膀胱癌患者采用三种不同术式行肾输尿管全长及膀胱袖状切除术：A术式即后腹腔镜肾输尿管全长切除＋下腹部切口膀胱壁内段袖状切除术,共行32例 B术式即后腹腔镜肾输尿管全长切除＋经尿道电切膀胱袖状切除＋经腹部切口取肾术,共行19例 C术式即经尿道电切膀胱袖状切除＋后腹腔镜肾输尿管全长切除＋经腹部切口取肾术,共行59例.结果：手术经过均顺利.三种术式的手术时间、术中出血量、平均住院时间差异无统计学意义.围手术期死亡3例.出院后获定期随访58例,随访8～85个月,平均38.3个月,46例失访.因肿瘤转移死亡4例,因气胸、脑血管病死亡各1例.三种术式术后早期并发症、对侧病变、膀胱痛复发情况差异无统计学意义 但C术式术后死亡及转移例数较少.结论：肾盂或输尿管癌伴膀胱癌者可优先选择经尿道电切膀胱袖状切除＋后腹腔镜肾输尿管全长切除＋经腹部切口取肾术,而仅有肾盂或输尿管癌者可考虑行后腹腔镜肾输尿管全长切除＋下腹部切口膀胱壁内段袖状切除术.     

经腹腔完全腔镜下肾输尿管膀胱袖状切除中输尿管末段处理的经验总结

目的:探讨完全腹腔镜下肾输尿管膀胱袖状切除术治疗上尿路肿瘤的手术技巧(尤其是末段输尿管的处理技术)及围手术期临床指标。方法:回顾性分析2012年1月～2017年7月在我院接受经完全腹腔下肾输尿管膀胱袖状切除术的87例上尿路尿路上皮癌(UTUC)患者的临床资料,其中男43例,女44例,平均年龄(67.25±9.90)岁;肾盂癌47例,肾盂癌合并输尿管癌10例,输尿管癌30例(输尿管上段癌12例,输尿管中段癌9例,输尿管下段癌11例);左侧49例,右侧38例;肿瘤平均直径(3.24±1.47)cm。87例患者均行全麻下经腹腔完全腹腔镜下肾、输尿管及膀胱袖状切除术,采用健侧卧位,术中无需改换体位。记录手术时间、术中出血量、术中输血情况、引流管留置时间、尿管留置时间、术后并发症。结果:87例手术顺利,无中转开放手术。平均手术时间(162.50±45.64)min,平均术中失血(113.33±59.74)ml,无围手术期输血。术后引流管平均留置(4.56±1.12)d,尿管平均留置(5.63±2.17)d。无术中并发症,术后出现并发症2例手术标本切缘均为阴性。术后病理分期T_1～T_4N_0M_0(T_1期24例,T_2期19例,T_3期37例,T_4期7例)。随访时间1～44个月,平均13个月,术后肿瘤复发8例。结论:经腹腔完全腹腔镜下肾输尿管膀胱袖状切除术对于UTUC的治疗安全有效,在处理下段输尿管时预先切断脐内侧襞可以增加操作空间,降低手术难度。     

后腹腔镜联合经尿道电切镜治疗上尿路移行细胞癌(附83例报告)

目的 探讨后腹腔镜联合经尿道电切镜治疗上尿路移行细胞癌的效果和安全性. 方法 2003年3月～2006年7月,我院采用后腹腔镜联合经尿道电切镜治疗83例上尿路移行细胞癌.经尿道袖状电切患侧输尿管口周围1.5 cm范围膀胱壁达膀胱外脂肪组织,采用后腹腔镜切除肾及全长输尿管.术后留置导尿管7 d.11例术后辅助放疗. 结果 83例手术均成功.手术时间115～205 min,平均156 min.术中出血50～150 ml,平均80 ml.无术中并发症.术后住院7～11 d,平均8.5 d.病理报告：82例上尿路移行细胞癌,1例肾盂上皮中～重度不典型增生.术后随访3～38个月,平均10.8月.术后12个月内行膀胱镜检查发现膀胱肿瘤6例,其中5例行经尿道膀胱肿瘤电切,1例行腹腔镜根治性膀胱全切术、左侧输尿管皮肤造口术.2例肾盂肿瘤（pT3 G3和pT2 G3）于术后3个月肝转移.2例输尿管中段肿瘤（pT3 G3和pT3 G2～3）术后6个月原位复发并肺转移.1例输尿管下段肿瘤（pT3 G3）术后6个月骨转移.失访1例.其余71例均未发现肿瘤复发、切口转移及远处转移. 结论 对于上尿路移行细胞癌,采用后腹腔镜联合经尿道电切镜行肾、输尿管全切及膀胱袖套状切除具有创伤小、安全、恢复快等优点,值得临床推广应用.     

后腹腔镜下肾输尿管全长切除加经尿道膀胱袖状切除治疗上尿路上皮癌

目的：探讨后腹腔镜下肾输尿管全长切除加经尿道膀胱袖状切除术治疗上尿路上皮癌的临床效果。方法：上尿路上皮癌患者68例,男23例,女45例,平均年龄63（43-78）岁。肾盂癌55例,输尿管上段肿瘤4例,输尿管下段肿瘤9例。其中输尿管下段肿瘤合并膀胱肿瘤1例。经尿道膀胱镜患侧输尿管逆行插入输尿管导管引流肾盂尿,用电切镜针状电极距输尿管口周围约0．5cm环形切透膀胱壁,分离出输尿管开口及膀胱壁内段。拔除输尿管导管,电凝输尿管开口,使开口封闭,减少肿瘤细胞种植机会。采用腰部3个穿刺套管针人路,行后腹腔镜下根治性肾切除,输尿管尽量向下游离,如果是肾盂癌或输尿管上段肿瘤,用腹腔镜分离钳可以将下段输尿管提拉出来,扩大套管切口,将肾输尿管全长完整取出,避免了下腹部开放切口;如果是下段输尿管肿瘤,则需下腹部行5-7cm切口,先取出。肾标本,再行输尿管下段切除术。结果：68例手术顺利。手术时间平均120（90-240）min,术中出血量平均60（40-500）ml,1例需输血。术后引流管留置时间平均4（3-7）d,导尿管留置时间平均8（7-15）d。拔除尿管后均行B超检查无膀胱漏尿。术后病理报告均为尿路上皮癌。65例患者获随访平均18（3-38）个月。58例患者无瘤生存,3例死于心脑血管及肺部疾病。4例术后患膀胱肿瘤而行电切治疗。结论：后腹腔镜下肾输尿管全长切除加经尿道膀胱袖状切除治疗上尿路上皮癌,手术安全易行,用电切镜环状切除输尿管开口及膀胱壁内段可完整切除输尿管,对输尿管开口进行电凝封闭可减少肿瘤细胞种植。对肾盂癌及上段输尿管肿瘤患者可避免行下腹部开放切口的输尿管下段切除术,有效减少创伤,疗效可靠,无肿瘤种植转移。     

经腹腹腔镜与后腹腔镜治疗上尿路尿路上皮癌的比较研究

目的探讨完全腹腔镜下肾输尿管全长切除、膀胱袖状切除术治疗上尿路尿路上皮癌的有效性和安全性。方法回顾性分析2010年10月~2015年10月上尿路尿路上皮癌79例资料,其中经腹完全腹腔镜下肾输尿管全长切除及膀胱袖状切除术47例(CTLNU组),后腹腔镜肾输尿管全长切除+下腹部小切口膀胱袖状切除术32例(RLNU组)。记录手术时间、术中出血量、术后肛门排气时间和术后住院时间。结果与RLNU组相比,CTLNU组手术时间短[(120.5±21.6)min vs.(145.2±29.9)min,t=-4.265,P=0.000],术中出血量少[(120.8±42.4)ml vs.(190.6±60.8)ml,t=-6.017,P=0.000],术后住院时间短[(8.2±2.5)d vs.(9.9±3.2)d,t=-2.646,P=0.010];术后肛门排气时间差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。CTLNU组和RLNU组随访发现膀胱尿路上皮癌分别为5例和3例(P0.05),行经尿道膀胱肿瘤电切术治愈,远处转移分别为2例和3例(P0.05)。结论完全腹腔镜下肾输尿管全长切除、膀胱袖状切除术是治疗上尿路尿路上皮癌的可行、安全、有效的微创方法。     

腹腔镜联合尿道电切镜行肾输尿管切除并膀胱袖状切除术治疗上尿路肿瘤

目的:总结腹膜后腹腔镜联合尿道电切镜行肾输尿管切除并膀胱袖状切除术治疗上尿路移行细胞癌的临床经验.方法:回顾分析9例肾盂癌、8例输尿管癌患者的临床资料.术中先用电切镜经尿道袖状分离输尿管管口及壁内段,再切除肾、输尿管,并记录相关指标,术后常规用丝裂霉素或吡柔比星灌注膀胱.结果:16例手术顺利完成,1例因右肾切除时损伤下...     

后腹腔镜双侧一期肾输尿管全长切除术——肾移植术后原上尿路移行细胞癌8例报告

目的探讨肾移植术后发现原肾肾盂癌和(或)输尿管癌一期行后腹腔镜双侧肾输尿管全长切除术的安全性与可行性。方法 2006年4月~2009年11月对8例肾移植术后发现原肾肾盂癌和(或)输尿管癌行腹腔镜下双侧一期肾输尿管全长切除。先取左侧卧位,后腹腔镜下游离右侧肾及输尿管,输尿管远端用钛夹夹闭;改为右侧卧位后同法处理左侧肾及输尿管;然后取截石位,经尿道用电切镜袖状切除双侧输尿管膀胱膀胱壁内段;最后取下腹正中6 cm切口取出标本。结果 8例均行后腹腔镜双侧肾输尿管全长切除联合经尿道膀胱袖状切除,其中1例因膀胱内发现肿物同时行经尿道膀胱电切术,无中转开腹。手术时间(346.9±105.4)min(230~574 min);术中出血量(162.5±102.6)ml(100~400 ml),均无输血;住院时间(18.3±5.7)d(12~49 d)。病理报告均为尿路上皮癌,其中2例为双侧病变,此2例中有1例合并膀胱癌。8例随访(22.6±14.2)月(6~49个月),其中1年6例,均存活,1例膀胱癌复发相继行电切、膀胱部分切除治疗。结论肾移植术后原肾肾盂癌或输尿管癌一期行后腹腔镜双侧肾输尿管全长切除术是一种安全可行的治疗方式。     

后腹腔镜肾输尿管全切并膀胱袖套状切除治疗上尿路移行细胞癌

目的:探讨后腹腔镜肾输尿管全切并膀胱袖套状切除治疗上尿路移行细胞癌的疗效.方法:对7例上尿路移行细胞癌患者行后腹腔镜下肾脏切除术,经同侧下腹斜切口切除输尿管肿瘤或下段输尿管并行膀胱袖套状切除,完整取出切除的肾输尿管标本.术后常规卡介苗膀胱灌注.结果:手术时间210～240 min;术中出血量80～200 ml;术后8 d出院,无严重并发症发生.随访0.5～1.5年,1例肿瘤局部复发伴肝脏转移,其余无复发.结论:后腹腔镜肾输尿管全切并膀胱袖套状切除治疗上尿路移行细胞癌,是一种安全有效的术式,具有痛苦小、并发症少及患者恢复快等优点.     

腹腔镜肾输尿管全长切除术及膀胱袖状切除术治疗上尿路移行细胞癌

目的:评价腹腔镜经腹腔径路行肾输尿管全长切除术及膀胱袖状切除术治疗上尿路移行细胞癌的有效性及安全性。方法:对6例上尿路移行细胞癌患者行腹腔镜经腹腔径路肾切除术,经同侧下腹斜切口、袖状切除输尿管并完整取出标本。结果:6例手术均获成功,无中转开放手术,手术时间200～320min,平均250min,术中出血100～300ml,均未输血,住院8～12d,平均9d,术后常规膀胱灌注丝裂霉素,随访2～14个月,均无复发或转移。结论:腹腔镜肾输尿管全长切除术是治疗上尿路移行细胞癌安全有效的微创手术,具有痛苦小、康复快等优点。     

后腹腔镜联合应用膀胱电切镜行肾输尿管全切及膀胱袖套状切除术

目的:评价后腹腔镜联合膀胱电切镜行肾输尿管全切及膀胱袖套状切除术治疗上尿路移行细胞癌的有效性及安全性。方法:对10例上尿路移行细胞癌患者行后腹腔镜联合膀胱电切镜行肾输尿管全切术,完整取出切除的肾输尿管标本。术后常规化疗药物膀胱灌注。结果:手术时间180~230m in;术中出血量80~200m l;术后8d出院,无严重并发症发生。随访2~24个月,无复发。结论:后腹腔镜联合膀胱电切镜行肾输尿管全切术治疗上尿路移行细胞癌,是一种安全有效的术式,具有痛苦小、并发症少及患者恢复快等优点。     

Mayo Clinic Scottsdale Experience with laparoscopic nephroureterectomy.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy of laparoscopic nephroureterectomy for patients with transitional cell carcinoma of the upper urinary tract. METHODS: Eighteen patients underwent attempted transperitoneal laparoscopic nephroureterectomy between June 2000 and October 2002. Mean patient age was 67.5 years. The specimen was removed intact through a 7- to 9-cm extraction incision in the lower midline. In the majority of patients, the distal ureter was dissected through the extraction incision. RESULTS: Sixteen cases were completed laparoscopically. Two cases required conversion to an open procedure. In these cases, dense fibrosis was present around the renal hilum preventing further dissection. The mean operative time was 180 minutes, and the mean estimated blood loss was 160 mL. The mean length of stay was 3.3 days. Complications included the 2 conversions, and 1 patient with a postoperative Mallory Weiss tear. No port-site or distant metastasis occurred; however, 1 patient developed a retroperitoneal recurrence. CONCLUSION: Laparoscopic nephroureterectomy is an alternative to open nephroureterectomy. Cases with high-stage and grade may cause the laparoscopic dissection to be difficult. The extraction incision allows for easy dissection of the distal ureter.     

Different treatment strategies for end stage renal disease in patients with transitional cell carcinoma

PURPOSE: Transitional cell carcinoma is the most common urinary tract cancer in Taiwanese patients on dialysis. It is a unique finding compared within Western countries. Due to this geographic difference and a higher recurrence rate a more extensive operation and aggressive followup protocols should be refined for these patients on dialysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of all patients with transitional cell carcinoma who had end stage renal disease and underwent hemodialysis. Records were reviewed for hemodialysis duration, initial tumor location, tumor grade, stage, operative method, operative complication and final surgical status. Tumor grade and stage was determined by the WHO and proposed Jewett systems. Six patient groups were classified according to final surgical status for comparative analysis. RESULTS: A total of 30 patients were included in this study. Painless gross hematuria and urethral bloody discharge were the most common complaints. Tumor in 25 of the 30 cases was high grade and all were early stage. Of the patients 11 (36.7%) had undergone bilateral nephroureterectomy and radical cystectomy in as a 1 or multiple step procedure. Six patients (20%) had undergone bilateral nephroureterectomy at 1 or 2 sequential operations. Seven of the 13 patients (53.8%) in whom low urinary tract transitional cell carcinoma was initially treated with transurethral resection unfortunately had recurrent transitional cell carcinoma of the upper urinary tract. Ten of the 14 patients (71.4%) with upper urinary tract transitional cell carcinoma who underwent nephroureterectomy and bladder cuff excision had subsequent transitional cell carcinoma within the bladder. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with transitional cell carcinoma on dialysis had a higher recurrence rate in the upper urinary tract than patients not on dialysis. Most cases were at an early stage but with high grade tumor behavior. In 11 patients (36.7%) total exenteration of the urinary tract except the urethra was eventually done. The final bilateral nephroureterectomy rate was 56.7%. Since the rate of total exenteration and bilateral nephrectomy was abnormally high at such a short followup, 1-step bilateral nephroureterectomy and radical cystectomy are a recommended treatment for patients with transitional cell carcinoma on dialysis.     

Laparoscopic nephroureterectomy for upper tract transitional cell cancer: the Washington University experience

PURPOSE: Laparoscopic nephroureterectomy has only recently been done to treat patients with upper tract transitional cell carcinoma. We retrospectively evaluated our experience with and long-term followup of laparoscopic nephroureterectomy, compared our results to those of contemporary series of open nephroureterectomy and reviewed the literature. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed the charts of and followed up by telephone 25 patients who underwent laparoscopic nephroureterectomy between May 1991 and June 1998, and 17 who underwent open nephroureterectomy between March 1990 and January 1997. Demographic, perioperative and followup data were compared. We performed a MEDLINE search and reviewed the literature on laparoscopic nephroureterectomy for upper tract transitional cell carcinoma. RESULTS: Laparoscopic nephroureterectomy required twice the operating time of open nephroureterectomy (7.7 versus 3.9 hours). However, patients who underwent the laparoscopic procedure had a 74% decrease in analgesia requirements (37 versus 144 mg. morphine sulfate equivalent), a 63% shorter hospital stay (3.6 versus 9.6 days) and a 72% more rapid convalescence (2.8 versus 10 weeks). Subsequent bladder transitional cell carcinoma and overall cancer specific survival were similar at a mean followup of 2 years. There was no sign of trocar site or peritoneal seeding after laparoscopic nephroureterectomy. CONCLUSIONS: Although laparoscopic nephroureterectomy is a longer operation, it has the same efficacy and is better tolerated by patients than open nephroureterectomy for upper tract transitional cell carcinoma. As operating time decreases due to surgeon experience and the recent development of hand assisted laparoscopy, laparoscopic nephroureterectomy may soon become the procedure of choice for the ablative management of upper tract transitional cell carcinoma.     

Laparoscopic nephroureterectomy: long-term outcomes

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Laparoscopic nephroureterectomy is becoming increasingly common since it was first described in 1991 for upper urinary tract transitional cell carcinoma, with long-term data now emerging. The purpose of this study was to compare oncological outcomes between laparoscopic nephroureterectomy and open nephroureterectomy, investigate recurrence risks specific to laparoscopic nephroureterectomy techniques and review long-term outcomes after laparoscopic nephroureterectomy. RECENT FINDINGS: Recently published long-term outcomes support the oncologic efficacy of laparoscopic nephroureterectomy, confirming results from previous studies with short and intermediate follow-up. Rates of bladder, local and distant recurrence are comparable irrespective of the various methods of managing the distal ureter and bladder cuff currently employed. SUMMARY: As the oncologic outcomes after laparoscopic nephroureterectomy continue to mature, a laparoscopic approach for the renal portion of nephroureterectomy is widely accepted as the gold standard in the treatment of organ-confined upper urinary tract transitional cell carcinoma. The roles of laparoscopic nephroureterectomy, lymph node dissection and adjuvant chemotherapy in advanced upper urinary tract transitional cell carcinoma continue to evolve and remain to be defined.     

后腹腔镜下肾输尿管全长及膀胱袖状切除术35例报告

目的 介绍后腹腔镜下行肾、输尿管全长及膀胱袖状切除的体会。方法 经后腹腔镜施行肾输尿管全长及袖状膀胱切除术35例。男14例，女21例。年龄49～82岁，平均67岁。输尿管肿瘤20例，肾盂肿瘤15例。肿瘤位于右侧19例，左侧16例。其中输尿管肿瘤合并膀胱肿瘤者2例，先后发生双侧输尿管肿瘤并膀胱肿瘤者1例。经尿道用针状电极距输尿管口约0．5am环行切透膀胱。采用腰部3个穿刺套管针入路，行根治性肾切除，输尿管尽量向下游离，下腹部行5～9cm切口，取出肾标本，然后行下段输尿管及部分膀胱袖状切除。结果 35例手术顺利，手术时间1．5～6．0h，平均3．1h。出血量20～1600ml，平均166ml。4例需输血。术后20～32h下床活动。术后病理报告为移行细胞癌30例，输尿管低分化腺癌2例，输尿管鳞状细胞癌1例，输尿管平滑肌肉瘤1例，黄色肉芽肿性肾盂肾炎1例。1例术前为尿毒症透析患者，术后并发十二指肠漏，术后第3天放置引流管引流十二指肠漏出液，术后2个月死于心力衰竭。术后常规行膀胱灌注，预防肿瘤复发。平均住院时间11d。随访1～32个月，平均14个月，33例患者无瘤生存，1例术后3个月发生盆腔转移，目前带瘤存活。膀胱肿瘤均未见复发。结论 经后腹腔镜手术治疗肾盂和输尿管肿瘤，切口明显小于开放手术，术后恢复快。用电切镜环状切除输尿管末端可完整切除输尿管。     

Robot-assisted laparoscopic combined nephroureterectomy and cystoprostatectomy: an initial report and review of the literature

Patients presenting with invasive, high-grade, or recurrent bladder cancer and synchronous upper urinary tract malignancy may be considered for simultaneous nephroureterectomy and radical cystectomy. We present the first known reported case of robot-assisted laparoscopic combined nephroureterectomy and cystoprostatectomy, describing a 62-year-old man with recurrent T1 bladder cancer and concomitant upper urinary tract transitional cell carcinoma. Patient underwent robot-assisted laparoscopic combined nephroureterectomy and radical cystoprostatectomy with extended pelvic lymph node dissection and extracorporeal ileal conduit urinary diversion. Robotic surgery was completed successfully without need for conversion to open procedure. There were no operative or perioperative complications. Blood loss (200 ml) and hospital stay (7 days) were less than prior reported laparoscopic experience with combined surgery. Although indications may be rare, robotic nephroureterectomy with simultaneous radical cystoprostatectomy is a feasible and safe surgical option.     

Hand-assisted laparoscopic nephroureterectomy for upper urinary tract transitional cell carcinoma.

OBJECTIVE: We report our experience with hand-assisted laparoscopic nephroureterectomy (HALN) for upper urinary tract transitional cell carcinoma and compare our results with a contemporary series of open nephroureterectomy (ON) performed at our institution. METHODS: Between August 1996 and May 2003, 90 patients underwent nephroureterectomy for upper-tract transitional cell carcinoma (TCC). Thirty-eight patients underwent HALN, while 52 had an ON. End-points of comparison included operative time, estimated blood loss (EBL), intraoperative and postoperative complications, length of hospital stay, pathologic grade and stage of tumor, and tumor recurrence. RESULTS: The mean patient age was 72.3 and 70.6 years in the ON and HALN groups, respectively. Mean operative duration was 243 minutes (ON) and 244 minutes (HALN), with an EBL of 478mL in the open group versus 191 mL in the hand-assisted group (P<0.001). No intraoperative complications occurred, but postoperative complications occurred in 4% and 11% of the ON and HALN groups, respectively (P=0.21). The mean hospital duration was 7.1 days (ON) versus 4.6 days (HALN) (P<0.01). No difference existed in the pathologic grade or stage distribution of urothelial tumors between the 2 groups. The mean follow-up was 51.0 months in the ON group and 31.7 months in the HALN group. Recurrence of urothelial carcinoma occurred in 50% of patients who underwent ON and 40% treated by HALN (P=0.38) at a median interval of 9.1 and 7.7 months, respectively, after surgery. CONCLUSION: Hand-assisted laparoscopic nephroureterectomy is an effective modality for the treatment of upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma. Patients benefited from less intraoperative blood loss and a shorter hospitalization with an equivalent intermediate-term oncologic outcome compared with that of the open approach.