Retroperitoneal surgery of the kidney, ureter and adrenal gland.

Seventy-one retroperitoneal endoscopic procedures on the kidney, ureter and adrenal gland were performed in 69 patients, using the balloon technique of retroperitoneoscopy. There were 9 failures in this series, all of which were converted into an open procedure. The balloon satisfactorily dissected the kidney and the ureter in 59 patients (85%). There were no major complications and the minor complication rate was 20%. Forty-nine patients were discharged the next day, while 20 were kept in hospital for 2 to 5 days. The balloon technique of retroperitoneoscopy is safe, simple and reliable for exposing the kidney, ureter and the adrenal gland.