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.