Retroperitoneal laparoscopic nephrectomy.

When removal of a kidney is indicated for symptomatic end-stage renal disease of benign etiology, laparoscopic nephrectomy by the retroperitoneal approach is increasingly being employed as the technique of choice at many centers. Emerging data indicate that, in select patients with T1-T3aN0M0 renal tumors < 8 cm, retroperitoneal laparoscopic radical nephrectomy may be a viable treatment option.