Laparoscopic retroperitoneal lymph node dissection versus open retroperitoneal lymph node dissection for testicular cancer: A comparison of clinical and perioperative outcomes

OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to evaluate the clinical and perioperative outcomes of laparoscopic retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (L-RPLND) and open retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (O-RPLND) performed by one surgeon at a single center. METHODS: We evaluated 30 patients with stage IIA germ cell tumors who underwent retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (15 underwent L-RPLND and 15 underwent O-RPLND) at our institution between April 1, 2010 and March 31, 2018. The clinical parameters were compared between patients who underwent L-RPLND using the retroperitoneal approach and those who underwent O-RPLND using the transperitoneal approach. There were no significant differences in the background characteristics of the two groups except for the median follow-up duration (46 months for L-RPLND and 71 months for O-RPLND, p=0.02). RESULTS: L-RPLND was associated with a shorter mean operative time (mean 222 min for L-RPLND vs. 453 min for O-RPLND, p<0.001). There was significantly less blood loss during surgery in the L-RPLND group compared to the O-RPLND group (mean 165 mL for L-RPLND vs. 403 mL for O-RPLND, p<0.001). Parameters related to postoperative recovery were significantly better for the L-RPLND group than for the O-RPLND group. There were no differences in the histopathological characteristics between the two groups. No patients in either group exhibited disease recurrence. CONCLUSION: Patients who underwent L-RPLND had more rapid recovery, and shorter hospital stay compared to those who underwent O-RPLND; complications were comparable between the two groups. L-RPLND is an efficient procedure with the benefits of minimally invasive surgery.