Transvaginal NOTES Nephrectomy Versus Conventional Laparoscopic Nephrectomy

Transvaginal NOTES Nephrectomy Versus Conventional Laparoscopic Nephrectomy: a Randomized Clinical Trial

Recent reports have suggested that transvaginal NOTES nephrectomy is feasible, yet comparative studies are lacking. The aim of this study was to compare the surgical outcomes of transvaginal NOTES nephrectomy to conventional laparoscopic nephrectomy.

Inclusion Criteria:

• female sex,
• indication for nephrectomy due to benign or malignant kidney disease,
• age between 18 and 65 years, and
• legal competence

Exclusion Criteria:

• emergency surgery,
• contraindications to laparoscopic surgery,
• class IV or V as defined by the American Society for Anesthesiologists (ASA),
• body mass index (BMI) of > 30 kg/m2,
• advanced TNM staging (≥ T3),
• history of major abdominal surgery,
• gravidity or breast-feeding, and
• no written informed consent signed