Laparoscopic nephroureterectomy in renal pelvic urothelial carcinoma with situs inversus totalis: preoperative training using a patient-specific simulator.

OBJECTIVE

To report the first case of preoperative training using a patient-specific laparoscopic simulator for a patient with situs inversus totalis (SIT).

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

A 61-year-old man presented with gross hematuria and was diagnosed with right renal pelvic cancer T1N0M0. A whole-body computed tomography (CT) scan also revealed his organs showed a mirror image, with left-to-right reversal, and SIT was diagnosed. A laparoscopic right nephroureterectomy through a retroperitoneal approach was scheduled. Before the operation, we practiced the operation using a patient-specific laparoscopic surgical simulator that we have developed. The patient's CT data were used to reproduce the retroperitoneal space in the simulator, and the surgeon trained and became familiar with his SIT anatomy.

RESULTS

The insufflation time was 182 minutes, and the estimated blood loss was 50 mL. The surgeon was able to complete the right retroperitoneoscopic nephroureterectomy safely, without any problems.

CONCLUSION

To our knowledge, we report the first case of preoperative training using a patient-specific simulator for a patient with SIT. Preoperative training was useful, and retroperitoneoscopic nephroureterectomy was successfully performed in a patient with renal pelvic urothelial carcinoma and SIT.