Transperitoneal Laparoscopic Nephrectomy for Non-Functional Kidneys: A Report of 25 Cases

Background and Aim: Ever since the first-ever laparoscopic nephrectomy performed in 1991 by Clayman, laparoscopy has become the technique of choice for benign renal pathologies and also for cancerous lesions. In this paper, we present and evaluate the results of laparoscopic nephrectomy carried out on patients with non-functional kidneys at the Centre medico-chirugical d’urologie in Douala, Cameroon. Materials and Methods: This was a retrospective study carried out from 2016 to 2020. We included 25 patients with non-functional kidneys who underwent transperitoneal laparoscopic nephrectomy. Results: We included 25 patients (15 males and 10 females) with a mean age of 32.80 ± 9.76 years. Twenty (80%) patients presented with low back pain, four (16%) presented with acute pyelonephritis, and one (4%) presented with both low back pain and hematuria. The right kidney was damaged in 10 (40%) patients and the left kidney in 15 (60%) patients. The kidney failure requiring nephrectomy was due to stones in 16 (64%) patients and upper pyeloureteric junction obstruction in nine (36%) patients. The mean surgery duration was 111.08 ± 31.95 minutes. The median perioperative blood loss was 100 [70 - 120] ml. Percutaneous drainage was required in 13 (52%) patients. Only two (8%) patients developed postoperative complications. The mean follow-up duration was 64 ± 24.48 days. All patients survived the surgical intervention. Conclusion: Laparoscopic nephrectomy is a mini-invasive technique that is suitable for the surgical removal of non-functional kidneys due to either ureteropelvic junction obstruction or massive kidney stones.