Quality of life after laparoscopic and open retroperitoneal lymph node dissection in clinical Stage I nonseminomatous germ cell tumor: A comparison study

Objectives. To compare the postoperative quality of life (QOL) and reconvalescence in patients with clinical Stage I nonseminomatous germ cell tumor (NSGCT) after laparoscopic retroperitoneal lymph node dissection (L-RPLND) and the open procedure (O-RPLND). Methods. Twenty-one patients with NSGCT who underwent transperitoneal L-RPLND were matched and compared with 29 patients who underwent O-RPLND. The operative, OOL, and recovery data and complications and cure rates were analyzed for both groups. Results. The mean follow-up time for the L-RPLND and O-RPLND groups was 14 months (range 6 to 20) and 26 months (range 8 to 38), respectively. No major complication requiring open surgical revision or prolongation of hospitalization was observed intraoperatively or postoperatively in either group. However, the early and late minor postoperative complications were significantly greater in the O-RPLND group than in the L-RPLND group (P < 0.001). The L-RPLND patients had a significantly shorter hospitalization, greater QOL scores, and a faster return to normal activities than did the O-RPLND patients (all P < 0.001). Conclusions. L-RPLND for patients with clinical Stage I NSGCT is a safe and efficacious procedure, with a faster reconvalescence and greater postoperative QOL than after O-RPLND.