Laparoscopy-assisted urologic surgery through minilaparotomy

Minimally invasive surgery has gained wide acceptance as a method of reducing postoperative pain and curtailing the convalescence period. We have devised a modified surgical technique of laparoscopy-assisted surgery through minilaparotomy. It is a hybridized form of conventional open and laparoscopic surgery and it combines the benefits of both techniques by reducing postoperative pain and scarring as in laparoscopy, but at the same time maintaining the safety of conventional open surgery. From January 1992 to September 1999, we performed laparoscopy-assisted surgery through minilaparotomy in 167 patients. The operative time for laparoscopy-assisted surgery through minilaparotomy ranged from 79 to 290 minutes (mean 125). There was no conversion to open surgery, no peri- or postoperative complications, and only 3 patients needed a blood transfusion at any stage. Pain was significant on the first day but resolved quickly. All patients resumed consistent oral intake on the second day. All patients commenced ambulation by the second postoperative day and were able to resume full ambulatory activity by the fourth postoperative day. The final would size did not exceed 10 cm in size and all patients expressed satisfaction with their wounds. In conclusion, we believe that laparoscopy-assisted minilaparotomy surgery is a truly minimally invasive technique maintaining the advantages of conventional surgery. Our method could become a first-line approach for simple nephrectomy, living donor nephrectomy and radical nephrectomy, as well as surgery for kidney and ureter stones.