Objectives.

Hand-assisted laparoscopic surgery is easier to learn than standard laparoscopy and simplifies intact specimen removal. We present our experience performing hand-assisted laparoscopic radical nephrectomy (HALRN) and compare it with contemporary open radical nephrectomy performed at our institution.

Methods.

We performed 18 HALRNs for renal tumors ranging in size from 2 to 11 cm (average 4.5). Patients ranged in age from 40 to 83 years (average 62.9). All patients underwent HALRN with intact removal through a 7 to 8-cm vertical midline incision through an impermeable wound protector. Two or three working ports were used. We retrospectively compared our results with the results of 18 open radical nephrectomies performed during the same period, with the patients matched for age, body mass index, and American Society of Anesthesiologists’ score.

Results.

In the HALRN group, the average operating room time was 220.5 minutes, average length of stay 3.9 days, average time to return to normal activity 15.8 days, and average time to return to work 26.8 days. The median time to return to 100% normal was 28.0 days. No conversions or re-explorations were necessary in the HALRN series. The final pathologic examination revealed renal cell carcinoma in 15, oncocytoma in 1, angiomyolipoma in 1, and a complex cyst in 1. At a maximum of 48 months of follow-up (average 12.2), no recurrences were identified. Three deaths occurred in the series; 2 patients died with no evidence of disease and 1 patient died of metastatic disease (the nephrectomy was palliative). In the open group, the average operating room time was 117.8 minutes, average length of stay 5.1 days, average time to return to normal activity 23.5 days, and average time to return to work 52.2 days. The median time to return to 100% normal was 150 days, with 3 patients never returning to 100% normal.

Conclusions.

Our series demonstrated that HALRN is a safe, effective, minimally invasive option for treating renal cell carcinoma and provides a shorter hospital stay (P = 0.02), earlier return to work (P = 0.04), and earlier return to 100% normal (P = 0.0002) than open radical nephrectomy.