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Introduction: Warm ischemia and bleeding during laparoscopic partial nephrectomy place technical constraints on surgeons. Therefore it was the aim to develop a safe and effective laser assisted partial nephrectomy technique without need for ischemia.
Patients and methods: A diode laser emitting light at 1318nm in cw mode was coupled into a bare fibre (core diameter 600 μm) thus able to transfer up to 100W to the tissue. After dry lab experience, a total of 8 patients suffering from kidney malformations underwent laparoscopic/retroperitoneoscopic partial nephrectomy. Clinically, postoperative renal function and serum c-reactive protein (CRP) were monitored. Laser induced coagulation depth and effects on resection margins were evaluated. Demographic, clinical and follow-up data are presented.
Results: Overall interventions, the mean operative time was 116,5 minutes (range 60-175min) with mean blood loss of 238ml (range 50-600ml) while laser assisted resection of the kidney tissue took max 15min. After extirpation of the tumours all patients showed clinical favourable outcome during follow up period. The tumour size was measured to be 1.8 to 5cm. With respect to clinical safety and due to blood loos, two warm ischemia (19 and 24min) must be performed. Immediate postoperative serum creatinine and CRP were elevated within 0.1 to 0.6 mg/dl (mean 0.18 mg/dl) and 2.1-10 mg/dl (mean 6.24 mg/dl), respectively. The depth of the coagulation on the removed tissue ranged between <1 to 2mm without effect on histopathological evaluation of tumours or resection margin. As the surface of the remaining kidney surface was laser assisted coagulated after removal. The sealing of the surface was induced by a slightly larger coagulation margin, but could not measured so far.
Conclusion: This prospective in-vivo feasibility study shows that 1318nm-diode laser assisted partial nephrectomy seems to be a safe and promising medical technique which could be provided either during open surgery as well as laparascopically. This application showed good haemostasis and minimal parenchymal damage. Oncological safety appears to be warranted by the use of diode laser. Further investigations and development are needed for on-line detection of the remain coagulation margin, optimisation of the treatment equipment, and finally to train the application technique.
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