Open versus laparoscopic diagnostic pelvic lymphadenectomy.

In the staging of locally advanced bladder cancer and localized prostate cancer 22 consecutive patients underwent open pelvic lymphadenectomy and 9 consecutive patients underwent laparoscopic pelvic lymphadenectomy. The two operations were compared with number of lymph nodes removed, operative time, hospital stay, and postoperative complications. By the open and laparoscopic surgery in average 5.7 and 6.6 lymph nodes were removed, respectively. The laparoscopic procedure was more time-consuming, however, the hospital stay and postoperative complications were minor compared with the open operation. The laparoscopic pelvic lymphadenectomy as a staging procedure for carcinoma of the urinary bladder or localized prostate cancer is minimally invasive and a good alternative to open lymph node dissection.