Hand-Assisted Laparoscopic Nephrectomy for Inflammatory Renal Conditions

Abstract

Compared with standard laparoscopy, the hand-assisted approach has been reported to reduce operative times and increase safety. The advantages of minimally invasive surgery, such as reduced analgesia, shorter hospital stay, and faster return to normal activity, appear to be similar to those in patients undergoing a pure laparoscopic nephrectomy. Compared with radical nephrectomy for renal tumor, HAL simple nephrectomy can often be more challenging and associated with greater morbidity. For both the community urologist as well as an experienced laparoscopist, this approach is useful in handling these challenging cases.