Laparoscopic ureterectomy: initial clinical experience.

With a combination of cystoscopic and laparoscopic techniques, 3 patients underwent total ureterectomy for urothelial cancer without complication. Of the patients 2 underwent concomitant laparoscopic nephrectomy. Mean operating time was 8.2 hours for the laparoscopic surgery and mean hospital stay was 6 days. In 2 patients the ureter was removed intact, while in 1 it was morcellated along with the kidney before removal. In each case the bladder was closed with a 12 mm. GIA laparoscopic stapling device. After 3 to 9 months of followup no patient had recurrent disease or bladder stones on the staple line.