Anatrophic nephrotomy as nephron-sparing approach for complete removal of intraparenchymal renal tumors

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Anatrophic nephrotomy as nephron-sparing approach for complete removal of intraparenchymal renal tumors

Marcos F. Dall'Oglio; Lucas Ballarotti; Carlo C. Passerotti; Davi V. Paluello; Jose Roberto Colombo Junior; Alexandre Crippa; Miguel Srougi

Urology Division, University of Sao Paulo Medical School, Sao Paulo, Brazil and Cancer Institute of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil

^{Correspondence to}

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Partial nephrectomy for small kidney tumors has increased in the last decades, and the approach to non-palpable endophytic tumors became a challenge, with larger chances of positive margins or complications. The aim of this study is to describe an alternative nephron-sparing approach for small endophytic kidney tumors through anatrophic nephrotomy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of patients undergoing partial nephrectomy at our institution was performed and the subjects with endophytic tumors treated with anatrophic nephrotomy were identified. Patient demographics, perioperative outcomes and oncological results were evaluated.

RESULTS: Among the partial nephrectomies performed for intraparenchymal tumors between 06/2006 and 06/2010, ten patients were submitted to anatrophic nephrotomy. The mean patient age was 42 yrs, and the mean tumor size was 2.3 cm. Mean warm ischemia time was 22.4 min and the histopathological analysis showed 80% of clear cell carcinomas. At a mean follow-up of 36 months, no significant creatinine changes or local or systemic recurrences were observed.

CONCLUSION: The operative technique described is a safe and effective nephron-sparing option for complete removal of endophytic renal tumors.

Key words: Kidney neoplasms; nephrons; Urologic Surgical Procedures; Outcome Assessment (Health Care)

INTRODUCTION

With the development of imaging diagnosis techniques, and the higher number of requested exams, there has been a growth of the incidence of small renal tumors, and an increase of the indication of nephron-sparing surgery, with excellent oncological and functional outcomes (1). In the last years, the incidental lesions are responsible for more than 60% of kidney tumors and 80% of these are in stages I and II (2).

Nephron-sparing renal surgery has been increasingly used for small renal mass (<4 cm) and, in selected cases, up to 7 cm renal tumors with similar oncological outcomes compared to radical nephrectomy, (3-5) with small complication ratio (6). The 5-year recurrence-free survival is approximately 96% for lesions smaller than 4 cm, and of 83% for lesions from 4 to 7 cm (7).

However, renal occult tumors diagnosed by imaging techniques represent greater technical difficulties for localization and resection, and may increase the chances of complications (8) (Figures 1A-C). To precisely locate the tumor during surgical resection, intraoperative ultrasound during the operation has been used successfully (9).

The objective of this study is to present an alternative surgical approach for the complete enucleation of endophytic tumors through anatrophic nephrotomy, avoiding radical nephrectomy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The authors performed a retrospective analysis of patients undergoing partial nephrectomy at their institution and all subjects with endophytic tumors treated with anatrophic nephrotomy were identified (Figures 2A-D). Patient demographics, perioperative, functional and oncologic results were evaluated. Among 554 renal tumors treated between 06/2006 and 06/2010, in 187 it was performed partial nephrectomy, and ten patients underwent partial nephrectomy through anatrophic nephrotomy.

The detailed operative technique is described below:

A) The access is made through either a flank or anterior subcostal incision; the kidney is dissected and exposed, and the renal artery and vein are repaired;

B) Ultrasound is used to identify the tumor borders and depth. Before renal artery clamping, it is infused intravenously 50 mL of mannitol 20% for nephron protection during warm ischemia. Ice is used to involve the kidney after clamping for 3 min before initiating the tumor resection, and in this case both artery and vein are clamped (Figure-2A);

C) Right after the renal artery clamping with a bulldog, the nephrotomy is performed along the Brodel's vascular line for the visualization of the tumor (Figure-2B). The tumor enucleation is then carried out using a combination of blunt and sharp dissection (Figure-2C). The surgical specimen is immediately sent to the histopathological laboratory in order to verify the margins during the renal reconstruction. The hemostasis is done through parenchymal stitches of 2.0-chromed catgut. Renorrhaphy is then performed with a running Vicryl^® 0 suture (Figure-2D);

D) A suction drain is placed surrounding the closed Gerota's fascia in all cases and the incision is closed.

RESULTS

Ten patients were evaluated. The mean age was 42 yrs (30-59), and nine were male. The mean tumor size was 2.3 cm (1.5–3.5), compared with 3.5 + 2.4 cm of all partial nephrectomies. Mean warm ischemia time was 22.4 min (15-30) (Table 1). The mean pre-operative serum creatinine was 0.88 mg/dL, and the post-operative value was 0.94 mg/dL, measured two weeks after surgery.

On the pathological analysis, two lesions had benign etiology (oncocytoma), and among the renal cell carcinomas, six were of clear cells, one papillary, and one chromophobic. The majority of the lesions were of low Fuhrman grade, and no positive surgical margin has been observed in this series (Table 2).

No patient showed significant intraoperative bleeding, with no blood transfusion, as well as urinary fistulas or collections. There was no loss of the renal unit in any patient submitted to surgery. All patients were monitored using the same protocol during a mean follow-up of 36 months (6–72), with no local recurrence or systemic metastatic disease observed.

DISCUSSION

Anatrophic nephrotomy for handling solid and tumors completely endophytic represents a feasible approach for preservation of the kidney function in all cases, with adequate exposure and safety for tumor resection, as well as collector system closure and hemostasis.

Renal intraparenchymal (endophytic) tumors represent greater technical difficulties for localization and resection and may increase the chances of complications (8). Partial nephrectomy and/or enucleation represent 30% of the surgical procedures used for renal tumors, with long-term survival similar to radical nephrectomy for the initial stages, with cancer-specific and overall survival of 98% and 97% respectively (1,4,10). For tumors <4cm, there is no need to remove any additional surgical margin for optimal cancer control. The use of intraoperative ultrasound facilitates the precise identification of the lesion(s), its relation with intra-renal structures and the proximity of the major kidney vessels (9).

There are several definitions of central tumors, of which the best accepted are those of Black et al. (11), which consider that the lesion is completely surrounded by normal renal tissue, and that of Brown et al. (12) that define those with a distance shorter than 5 mm from the collection system or hilar vessels.

The anatrophic nephrectomy was developed for the treatment of staghorn lithiasis, with the opening of the renal parenchyma in the posterior face of the kidney under cold ischemia. Surgery studies targeting surgery for calculi occupying the entire collecting system show an average cold ischemia time varying from 20 to 45 minutes without significant blood loss (13, 14). Regarding the loss of renal function, the literature shows that 55% of the kidney units have their function maintained and just 13% exhibit a discrete reduction (13). The study of the relative function with DMSA shows an average reduction of 4% (15). Nohara et al. (15) described their technique for anatrophic partial nephrectomy with selective arterial clamping of the area of the tumor, after an angiography study, with a minor increase of the serum creatinine in the postoperative follow-up.

Nephron-sparing surgery for central but exophytic tumors has shown safety and efficacy compared to peripheral tumors. In a study with 118 patients, the operative and ischemia time, need of the closure of the collection system, and blood transfusion did not exhibit statistically differences (8). However, estimated blood loss was higher in the central tumor group: 220 mL (20 – 3500 mL) against 50 (5 to 1500 mL) in peripheral tumors. This same study showed a trend towards a higher number of urinomas and urinary fistulas in the central tumor group (8).

The technique presented herein allows a reliable approach, with a clear view of the tumors and their anatomical relations, with low complication rates (8,6). Moreover, it is technically reproductible by the majority of urologists, because of their familiarity with the anatrophic nephrectomy technique used to remove large staghorn calculi. The mean ischemia time of 22.4 minutes is comparable to the time of the partial nephrectomy studies (8) and below the average of those of nephrotomies for treating calculi (13,14).

There is currently a growing use of minimally invasive ablative therapies for small kidney tumors, such as radiofrequency and cryotherapy, providing greater safety and expanding its indications. However, recent studies show a higher failure rate varying from 13% to 35% for RFA and 4% to 6% for cryoablation (16,17). The main factor for failures on procedures aided by laparoscopy is the endophytic nature of the lesions (8). Besides, there are no series for these types of treatments with patients that are so young such as those presented in this study, and with an adequate follow-up.

The limitations of the present study are represented by the small number of patients, with a median follow-up of 36 months and with no studies of the renal functions of the operated units other than serum creatinine. However, the lesions were safely enucleated and rendered negative margins, with acceptable warm ischemia time.

The nephron-sparing surgery for tumors completely endophytic through anatrophic nephrotomy was safe, with low complication rate and short warm ischemia time. It may be a reliable option when dealing with complex small kidney tumors.

Nowadays, the Urologists have the obligation to try to perform the nephron-sparing surgery in tumors <7cm, whenever possible (3-5). In particular, this study wants to reinforce the need for this strategy, since the partial open surgery is mandatory in these cases to avoid loss of renal unit in small (< 4 cm) and asymptomatic tumors.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

None declared.

Submitted for publication: March 23, 2011

Accepted after revision: April 18, 2012

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Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  20 July 2012
• Date of issue
  June 2012

History

• Received
  23 Mar 2011
• Accepted
  18 Apr 2012