Background: Nephroureterectomy with bladder cuff excision remains the gold standard for upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC). Complete laparoscopic nephroureterectomy offers minimally invasive management with reduced morbidity versus open surgery.
Methods: We describe technical aspects and outcomes of CTLNU for UTUC in single position using 4 ports (two 10mm, two 5mm). A patient with left renal hilar UTUC underwent en bloc removal of kidney, ureter, and bladder cuff. Following standard laparoscopic principles, the kidney was mobilized with early vascular control. The ureter was dissected completely to the ureterovesical junction, preserving periureteric tissue. Laparoscopic bladder cuff excision involved cystotomy around the ureteric orifice, excision of intramural ureter with surrounding bladder muscle, and primary bladder closure. Intact specimen retrieval occurred through Pfannenstiel incision.
Results: Operative time was 84 minutes with estimated blood loss of 50ml. Hospital stay was 3 days; catheter duration 5 days. The patient experienced minimal postoperative pain and early mobilization. Histopathological examination confirmed complete excision with negative margins. Follow-up cystoscopy demonstrated satisfactory bladder healing without complications.
Conclusion: CTLNU in single position demonstrates superior outcomes: 84-minute operative time, 50ml blood loss, 3-day hospitalization, and 5-day catheterization. This minimally invasive, simplified approach to radical nephroureterectomy maintains oncological principles of en bloc resection while providing excellent cosmesis and reduced perioperative morbidity.
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