Laparoscopy and retroperitoneoscopy - novel techniques of which clinical nephrologists should be aware

(10/110) and bowel (6/110). Trocar herniation was Introduction observed in four cases and wound infection in four patients. The complication rate depended on the Since 1991, when Clayman and colleagues [1] perdifficulty of the procedure (Table 2). A recent analysis formed transperitoneal laparoscopic nephrectomy for of our first 200 cases of retroperitoneoscopy showed a removal of an oncocytoma, laparoscopy has gained similar learning curve (Table 3). Complication, converincreasing interest world wide. In 1992, Gaur [2] sion to open surgery and reintervention rate decreased presented a technique which allowed safe and easy from 14, 10, and 6% respectively during the first 50 access to the retroperitoneal space. In the meantime, cases to 2, 4, and 2% during the last 50 cases. both video-surgical approaches to kidney and ureter have been performed frequently for the treatment of various disorders of the upper urinary tract (Table 1) [3–7]. Clinical experience