LAPAROSCOPIC NEPHRECTOMY USING THE HARMONIC SCALPEL

Laparoscopic nephrectomy is gaining popularity, Improved instrumentati on is making surgery easier with fewer complications, Our first three laparoscopic nephrectomies using the Harmonic Scalpel were performed o n two women and one man, The surgical indications were nonfunctioning kidneys (two left, one right) with hypertension in one patient and sto ne disease in two, The three patients had a mean age of 46.3 years. Th e average hospital stay was 4 days, the average operative time 3.7 hou rs, and the average blood loss 160 mt. No complications occurred, Pati ents resumed oral intake within 8 hours postoperatively, We found the Harmonic Scalpel easy and safe to use, It saved time, was cost effecti ve, and was capable of easily controlling small-vessel bleeding. In co nclusion, the Harmonic Scalpel could be used effectively for both diss ection and bleeding control without suction off other instrumentation.