Renal cystic disease - Laparoscopic management

Traditionally, symptomatic or indeterminate renal cysts were managed with o pen exploration and cyst decortication-procedures associated with significa nt morbidity. The introduction of percutaneous and endoscopic techniques en abled diagnostic and therapeutic modalities for cyst evaluation and managem ent. However, for cysts that fail percutaneous or endoscopic maneuvers, or for the numerous cysts associated with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease, laparoscopy offers a safe and effective alternative for managemen t of symptomatic patients. Likewise, for endstage kidneys due to renal cyst ic disease, laparoscopic nephrectomy, while technically challenging, offers a less morbid alternative to open nephrectomy.