Propensity-score-matched comparison of perioperative outcomes between open and laparoscopic nephroureterectomy: a national series

Background

Nephroureterectomy (NU) represents the primary management for patients with nonmetastatic upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC). Either an open NU (ONU) or a laparoscopic NU (LNU) may be considered. Despite the presence of several reports comparing perioperative and cancer-control outcomes between the two approaches, no reports relied on a population-based cohort.

Objectives

Examine intraoperative and postoperative morbidity of ONU and LNU in a population-based cohort.

Design, setting, and participants

We relied on the US Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) to identify patients with nonmetastatic UTUC treated with ONU or LNU between 1998 and 2009. Overall, 7401 (90.8%) and 754 (9.2%) patients underwent ONU and LNU, respectively. To adjust for potential baseline differences between the two groups, propensity-score-based matching was performed. This resulted in 3016 (80%) ONU patients matched to 754 (20%) LNU patients.

Intervention

All patients underwent NU.

Measurements

The rates of intra- and postoperative complications, blood transfusions, prolonged length of stay (pLOS), and in-hospital mortality were assessed for both procedures. Multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed within the cohort after propensity-score matching.

Results and limitations

For ONU versus LNU respectively, the following rates were recorded: blood transfusions, 15% versus 10% (p < 0.001); intraoperative complications, 4.7% versus 2.1% (p = 0.002); postoperative complications, 17% versus 15% (p = 0.24); pLOS (≥5 d), 47% versus 28% (p < 0.001); in-hospital mortality, 1.3% versus 0.7% (p = 0.12). In multivariable logistic regression analyses, LNU patients were less likely to receive a blood transfusion (odds ratio [OR]: 0.6; p < 0.001), to experience any intraoperative complications (OR: 0.4; p = 0.002), and to have a pLOS (OR: 0.4; p < 0.001). Overall, postoperative complications were equivalent. However, LNU patients had fewer respiratory complications (OR: 0.4; p = 0.007). This study is limited by its retrospective nature.

Conclusions

After adjustment for potential selection biases, LNU is associated with fewer adverse intra- and perioperative outcomes than ONU.