OPEN VERSUS LAPAROSCOPIC DIAGNOSTIC PELVIC LYMPHADENECTOMY

In the staging of locally advanced bladder cancer and localized prosta te cancer 22 consecutive patients underwent open pelvic lymphadenectom y and 9 consecutive patients underwent laparoscopic pelvic lymphadenec tomy. The two operations were compared with number of lymph nodes remo ved, operative time, hospital stay, and postoperative complications. B y the open and laparoscopic surgery in average 5.7 and 6.6 lymph nodes were removed, respectively. The laparoscopic procedure was more time- consuming, however, the hospital stay and postoperative complications were minor compared with the open operation. The laparoscopic pelvic l ymphadenectomy as a staging procedure for carcinoma of the urinary bla dder or localized prostate cancer is minimally invasive and a good alt ernative to open lymph node dissection.