Cytoreductive laparoscopic radical nephrectomy: the early experience

Laparoscopic radical nephrectomy is becoming increasingly utilized for localized renal tumors. We have applied this procedure to patients with metastatic disease for cytoreduction prior to systemic immunotherapy. Advantages of the laparoscopic approach include decreased parenteral narcotic requirement and decreased time to initiate systemic therapy. Herein, we describe the procedure with some technical pearls learned in our early experience.