Laparoscopic retroperitoneal lymph node dissection versus open retroperitoneal lymph node dissection for testicular cancer:A comparison of clinical and perioperative outcomes

Objective:This study was performed to evaluate the clinical and perioperative outcomes of laparoscopic retroperitoneal lymph node dissection(L-RPLND)and open retroperitoneal lymph node dissection(O-RPLND)performed by one surgeon at a single center.Methods:We evaluated 30 patients with stage IIA germ cell tumors who underwent retroperitoneal lymph node dissection(15 underwent L-RPLND and 15 underwent O-RPLND)at our institution between April 1,2010 and March 31,2018.The clinical parameters were compared between patients who underwent L-RPLND using the retroperitoneal approach and those who underwent O-RPLND using the transperitoneal approach.There were no significant differences in the background characteristics of the two groups except for the median follow-up duration(46 months for L-RPLND and 71 months for O-RPLND,p=0.02).Results:L-RPLND was associated with a shorter mean operative time(mean 222 min for L-RPLND vs.453 min for O-RPLND,p<0.001).There was significantly less blood loss during surgery in the L-RPLND group compared to the O-RPLND group(mean 165 mL for L-RPLND vs.403 mL for O-RPLND,p<0.001).Parameters related to postoperative recovery were significantly better for the L-RPLND group than for the O-RPLND group.There were no differences in the histopathological characteristics between the two groups.No patients in either group exhibited disease recurrence.Conclusion:Patients who underwent L-RPLND had more rapid recovery,and shorter hospital stay compared to those who underwent O-RPLND;complications were comparable between the two groups.L-RPLND is an efficient procedure with the benefits of minimally invasive surgery.