Zero ischemia partial nephrectomy: Techniques and outcomes

Abstract

Νephron sparing techniques nowadays have replaced radical nephrectomy as the gold standard management for T1a tumors. Even though the basic step of this technique was hilar clamping in order to achieve a bloodless surgical field and ease tumor excision and rennoraphy, many surgeons have moved one step further and developed minimal or no vessel clamping. These techniques were grouped under the title of zero ischemia partial nephrectomy. Nevertheless there is a great heterogeneity in the literature concerning every aspect of this term including surgical steps, oncological outcomes and functional results. The purpose of this paper is to review the literature about this interesting topic and to clarify the different aspects of this challenging procedure.