Comparison of Perioperative Outcomes Between Laparoscopic and Open Partial Nephrectomy for Different Complexity Renal Cell Carcinoma Based on the R.E.N.A.L. Nephrometry Score

PURPOSE: This study aimed to compare perioperative outcomes of open partial nephrectomy (OPN) and laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN) from a retrospective single-center dataset. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective single-center analysis of 210 patients who underwent open (n=91) or laparoscopic (n =119) partial nephrectomy for RCC was conducted between 2012 and 2015. All patients were grouped into low complexity, moderate complexity, and high complexity according to the R.E.N.A.L. Nephrometry Score, respectively. The rates of intraoperative and postoperative complications estimated blood loss, warm ischemia time, operative time, conversion of laparoscopic procedure to open surgery, and postoperative length of stay were assessed for both procedures. RESULTS: In low complexity group (n=93), patients undergoing LPN (n=52) under ischemia conditions had significantly longer renal artery clamp time (p < 0.001) and operative time (p = 0.001) compared with OPN (n=41). However, patients undergoing LPN had a significantly less postoperative length of stay (p=0.005) and estimated blood loss (p < 0.001) compared with OPN. There was no statistically significant difference in the rates of complications between LPN and OPN. In the moderate complexity group (n=114), 67 and 47 patients underwent LPN and OPN, respectively. LPN had notably longer warm ischemia time (p < 0.001) and operative time (p < 0.001) compared with OPN. There were no statistically significant differences in the rates of complications, estimated blood loss, and postoperative length of stay between LPN and OPN. In the high complexity group (n=3), all patients underwent OPN. CONCLUSION: OPN and LPN procedures performed in patients with low and moderate complexity tumors based on the RENAL Nephrometry score offer acceptable and comparable results. When applied to low complexity tumors, our data suggest that laparoscopic NSS is an effective, minimally invasive therapeutic approach with the advantages of less blood loss, earlier hospital discharge, and more rapid convalescence.