Pediatric open partial nephrectomy: analysis of contemporary outcomes with a supracostal-12 approach.

Objective: Reports in the literature increasingly have demonstrated a shorter length of stay (LOS) with the laparoscopic approach to partial nephrectomy compared to historic open partial nephrectomy. We present data from the largest open series to date, to provide a more contemporary perspective.

Methods: A retrospective review was performed on all pediatric patients who underwent upper pole partial nephrectomy from 1999 to 2011. Using univariate and multivariate linear regression, the associations between multiple explanatory covariates and outcomes such as pain and length of stay were analyzed.

Results: Twenty-five surgeries were performed via a supracostal-12 approach. The mean incision length and operative time was 3.7 cm and 137 min, respectively. The average pain score was 1.7/10 and 72% of patients did not require morphine. The mean LOS was 36 h and all patients with postoperative imaging had normal blood flow. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that a later date of surgery was the only covariate significantly associated with decreased operative time and LOS.

Conclusion: Open partial nephrectomy can be performed in a minimally invasive manner via a small supracostal-12 incision with minimal pain and LOS. Surgeon experience is associated with decreased operative time and LOS. These contemporary open results should be considered when comparisons are made with laparoscopic surgery.