Laparoscopic Nephrectomy for the Kidney with the History of Serious Urinary Tract Infection

Introduction: Laparoscopic nephrectomy is sometimes difficult because of large renal mass, vascular anomalies, or severe adhesion. Urinary tract infection usually leads wide adhesion from serious inflammatory reaction around renal parenchyma, which often involves renal vessels and adjacent organs. However, atrophic kidney occasionally must be removed in some situations. For example, repeated episodes with atrophic parenchyma or low-volume urine drainage from the nephrostomy tube placed for the treatment of pyohydronephrosis would be an inevitable reason to decide the removal of atrophic kidney. Some investigators recommend choosing indications prudently for laparoscopic surgery because of the surgical difficulties, whereas others try laparoscopic approach at first for postoperative quality of life.1–3 Materials and Methods: Laparoscopic nephrectomy was done to five cases of atrophic kidneys caused by serious infectious episodes. Cases are all women. Two cases were treated by antibiotics alone and...