Laparoscopic surgery is effective for complex renal stones and allows for adjunctive procedures. It can also be an alternative to percutaneous nephrolithotomy. It complements other minimally invasive procedures, and a need for open stone surgery should be rare in the future.

Laparoscopic RPLND has demonstrated its surgical and oncologic efficacy. The morbidity and the complication rate are low. Recurrence rates are comparable to those of open surgery. Laparoscopic RPLND is safe, with less postoperative morbidity, quicker convalescence, better cosmetic results, and a diagnostic accuracy equal that of the open technique.

No abstract

The trend toward nephron-sparing surgery has become stronger even in the presence of normal contralateral functioning kidney. Data on oncologic efficacy are promising, and partial nephrectomy is becoming a standard therapy for renal tumors less than 4 cm in size in many centers. Laparoscopic partial nephrectomy has evolved significantly during the past 10 years in our experience as well as that of others. It cannot be considered as a standard yet, but it is being performed in rapidly increasing numbers with good surgical efficiency and oncologic efficacy parallel to that of open surgery.