Laparoscopic nephrectomy: a review of 16 cases.

Laparoscopic nephrectomy is a new procedure in which the entire kidney is removed via an endoscopic technique using a surgical sack entrapment method in combination with a recently developed high-speed 10-mm electrical tissue morcellator. Since June 25, 1990, this procedure has been successfully accomplished in 16 consecutive patients. The average operating room time was 5.6 h. Two patients received a blood transfusion (one and three units, respectively). The average hospital stay was 4.6 days, and convalescence was completed within an average of 12 days. We believe the methods developed for laparoscopic nephrectomy will allow surgeons in other disciplines to broaden their indications for laparoscopic surgery as the entrapment sack and morcellator can potentially be applied to the removal of many other solid intraabdominal and pelvic tissues.