Background and purpose: Nephroureterectomy (NU) with bladder cuff excision is the gold standard treatment for patients with upper urinary tract urothelial cancer. We report our initial experience with laparoendoscopic single-site plus one port (LESS POP) technique for NU and bladder cuff excision.
Patients and methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of consecutive patients undergoing LESS POP NU between 2011 and 2012. We describe in detail our surgical technique and summarized the outcomes in this initial series.
Results: Ten patients (7 male, 3 female) aged 55 to 84 years underwent LESS POP NU. There were no conversions to open technique or additions of conventional laparoscopic ports. Median (range) operative time was 217 minutes. Specimens were extracted through the umbilical incision in five patients and through an extension of the lower quadrant port in five. One patient experienced urine leak followed by umbilical wound dehiscence (Clavien grade IIIb complication).
Conclusions: In this series, LESS POP NU was feasible with encouraging outcomes. We believe that it is possible to extend the benefits of LESS to patients with upper tract tumors while adhering to strict oncologic principles.