Between August 1997 and October 2000 16 children aged 13 months to 15 years (mean 5.9 years) were subjected to laparoscopic nephrectomy on account of benign kidney disease, 10 by a transperitoneal approach, 6 by the retriperitoneal route. Retrospectively this group was compared with a group of 16 children aged 1 month to 15 years (mean 4.6 years) where in 1995-1998 nephrectomy was performed for the same reasons by the open route. The mean duration of the operation was 106.5 min. for the laparoscopic approach and 54.3 min. for open surgery (p = 0.00004), the postoperative drainage of the wound was 1.18 days in laparoscopic operations and 2.12 days in open operations (p = 0.025). The mean period of hospitalization was 5.12 and 6.68 days resp. (p = 0.003), analgetics were administered for 21.3 and 31.25 hours resp. after operation (p = 0.03). As to the beginning of oral food intake there was no significant difference, a blood transfusion was administered to one patient after the open operation. One patient developed a postoperative complication after open nephrectomy. The authors consider laparoscopic nephrectomy in children a safe and useful method.

        Key words: laparoscopy - kidneys - nephrectomy