Sliding-clip technique for renorrhaphy improves perioperative outcomes of open partial nephrectomy

Introduction: the aim of this work is to assess whether renorrhaphy with the sliding-clip technique improves perioperative and early functional outcomes compared with traditional renorrhaphy in a contemporary series of patients undergoing open partial nephrectomy (PN). Material and Methods: A single-center single-surgeon cohort of 107 consecutive patients treated with open PN between July 2013 and March 2017 was analyzed. A study group of 48 patients undergoing renorrhaphy with the sliding-clip technique was compared with a control group of 59 patients receiving traditional renorrhaphy. Outcome measures were operative room (OR) time, warm ischemia time (WIT), estimated blood loss (EBL), rate of overall 90-day postoperative complications, and percentage change in estimated glomerular filtration rate (PCE) > 10% and >20% 1 month postoperatively. Results: OR time (p = 0.02), WIT (p = 0.01) and EBL (p < 0.001) were significantly lower in the study versus control group. Overall 90-day postoperative complications were observed in 8 (16.7%) versus 21 (35.7%) patients in the study versus control group (p = 0.02). PCE > 10% and >20% 1 month postoperatively were observed in approximately 40% and 20% of patients, respectively, with no significant differences between groups. On multivariable analysis, a sliding-clip technique was an independent predictor of WIT >20 min and/or EBL >500 ml (OR 0.238, 95%CI 0.074-0.767; p = 0.01) and overall 90-day postoperative complications (OR 0.360, 95%CI 0.151-0.856; p = 0.02). Conclusions: In patients undergoing open PN, renorrhaphy with the sliding-clip technique was associated with better intraoperative and postoperative outcomes compared with traditional renorrhaphy. No significant differences were observed in terms of early renal function change.