ABSTRACT
In developed countries up to 40% of renal tumors are detected incidentally1,2. The majority of these lesions are amenable to partial nephrectomy, i.e. nephron-sparing surgery, where functional nephrons are preserved3. However, while laparoscopic total nephrectomy has been successfully introduced as an acceptable surgical option4, widespread application of laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN) has been limited by the lack of reliable methods for hemostasis upon tumor excision5. Time and again, clinicians face the dilemma of whether these small incidental renal lesions should be removed by conventional open methods or should a minimally invasive procedure be attempted.
