Robotic Trans‐Abdominal Transplant Nephrectomy for a Failed Renal Allograft

Minimally invasive surgery for removal of a failed renal allograft has not previously been reported. Herein, we report the first robotic trans‐abdominal transplant nephrectomy (TN). A 34‐year‐old male with Alport's syndrome lost function of his deceased donor allograft after 12 years and presented with fever, pain over his allograft and hematuria. The operation was performed intra‐abdominally using the Da Vinci Robotic Surgical System with four trocars. The total operative time was 235 min and the estimated blood loss was less than 25 cm³. There were no peri‐operative complications observed and the patient was discharged to home less than 24 h postoperatively. The utilization of robotic technology facilitated the successful performance of a minimally invasive, trans‐abdominal TN.     

Incidence and risk factors for urinary retention following laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair

Background

The incidence of postoperative urinary retention (PUR) has been reported to range from 1% to 22% in patients who have undergone laparoscopic inguinal hernia procedures. The objectives of this study were to determine the incidence of PUR and examine different risk factors that may be associated with the development of PUR in patients who have undergone laparoscopic inguinal hernia procedures.

Methods

A retrospective chart review was performed on 350 patients. Demographics, comorbidities, and operative and postoperative information were collected in patients undergoing laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair by 3 general surgeons from 2007 to 2011. Statistical analysis was done on patient demographics, medical histories, anesthesia notes, and postoperative notes to identify risk factors for the development of urinary retention after laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair.

Results

Three hundred fifty consecutive patients who underwent laparoscopic inguinal hernia repairs were reviewed. Twenty-nine patients developed PUR, an incidence of 8.3%. Age ≥60 years and history of benign prostatic hyperplasia showed significance on multivariate analysis, with odds ratios of 3.0 and 11.0 respectively (P < .05). Anesthesia time ≥2 hours (odds ratio, .75) was a contributing perioperative risk factor but only as an independent risk factor (P < .05).

Conclusions

History of benign prostatic hyperplasia, age ≥60 years, and anesthesia time ≥2 hours were significant independent risk factors for urinary retention after laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair. On multivariate analysis, only history of group and age ≥60 years showed significance. This is 1 of the largest studies to show that the development of PUR in laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair patients is a multifactorial process. Further studies should be conducted to corroborate our findings.