Rarity of surgical complications after postchemotherapy nephrectomy for nephroblastoma. Experience of the International Society of Paediatric Oncology-Trial and Study "SIOP-9". International Society of Paediatric Oncology Nephroblastoma Trial and Study Committee.

The aim of the study was to assess rates and types of nephrectomy-related complications in children nephrectomized for nephroblastoma after preoperative chemotherapy. Records of 598 Wilms' tumour patients registered in the International Society of Paediatric Oncology Trial & Study No. 9 (SIOP-9), and pretreated correctly according to the protocol with vincristine + actinomycin D +/- epirubicine or adriamycin prior to nephrectomy, were retrospectively reviewed. Forty-nine patients (8%), who suffered from 54 complications, were identified. Most frequent events were small-bowel occlusions (3.7%) and tumour ruptures (2.8%). Other complications were registered in 2.0% of cases. The low rate of nephrectomy complications and no deaths related to registered ones, are another argument for preoperative chemotherapy in Wilms' tumour patients.