European Urology

Abstract

Context

Laparoendoscopic single-site (LESS) surgery has increasingly been used to perform radical, partial, simple, or donor nephrectomy to reduce the morbidity and scarring associated with surgical intervention. Studies comparing LESS nephrectomy (LESS-N) and conventional laparoscopic nephrectomy (CL-N) have reported conflicting results.

Objective

To assess the current evidence regarding the efficiency, safety, and potential advantages of LESS-N compared with CL-N.

Evidence acquisition

We comprehensively searched PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane Library and performed a systematic review and cumulative meta-analysis of all randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and retrospective comparative studies assessing the two techniques.

Evidence synthesis

Two RCTs and 25 retrospective studies including a total of 1094 cases were identified. Although LESS-N was associated with a longer operative time (weighted mean difference [WMD]: 9.87 min; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.37–16.38; p = 0.003) and a higher conversion rate (6% compared with 0.3%; odds ratio: 4.83; 95% CI, 1.87–12.45; p = 0.001), patients in this group might benefit from less postoperative pain (WMD: −0.48; 95% CI, −0.95 to −0.02; p = 0.04), lower analgesic requirement (WMD: −4.78 mg; 95% CI, −8.59 to −0.97; p = 0.01), shorter hospital stay (WMD: −0.32 d; 95% CI, −0.55 to −0.09; p = 0.007), shorter recovery time (WMD: −5.08 d; 95% CI, −8.49 to −1.68; p = 0.003), and better cosmetic outcome (WMD: 1.07; 95% CI, 0.67–1.48; p < 0.00001). Perioperative complications, estimated blood loss, warm ischemia time, and postoperative serum creatinine levels of graft recipients did not differ significantly between techniques.

Conclusions

LESS-N offers a safe and efficient alternative to CL-N with less pain, shorter recovery time, and better cosmetic outcome. Given the inherent limitations of the included studies, future well-designed RCTs are awaited to confirm and update the findings of this analysis.