Retrograde transvenous perfusion cooling of the kidney, a valuable adjunct to in situ partial nephrectomy in complex renal cell carcinoma. First clinical results.

We report two cases of complex renal carcinoma in which retrograde transvenous perfusion cooling (RTPC) of the kidney was used as adjunct to in situ partial nephrectomy. Definite advantages seem to favour this technique of regional renal hypothermia. We are hopeful that RTPC of the kidney will in future allow to reduce the frequency of potentially harmful extracorporeal bench surgery with autotransplantation in the conservative management of renal carcinoma. Renal RTPC is applicable whenever the kidney is approached transperitoneally with preliminary exposure of the renal vascular pedicle. Tumour cell spill has to be discussed as possible complication of this method. Both patients are alive 25 and 19 months, respectively, after surgery without evidence of haematogenous, peritoneal or retroperitoneal tumour disease.