COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF OPEN AND LAPAROSCOPIC RADICAL NEPHRECTOMY OUTCOMES

The study aimed to provide a comparative evaluation of open radical nephrectomy (ORN) versus laparoscopic radical nephrectomy (LRN). Retrospective analysis was conducted on 120 patients (ORN = 55, LRN = 65) treated between 2022 and 2026. LRN demonstrated superior outcomes regarding estimated blood loss ($145.2 \pm 35.4$ mL vs. $280.5 \pm 62.8$ mL, $p < 0.01$), lower visual analog scale (VAS) pain scores ($2.4 \pm 0.8$ vs. $5.6 \pm 1.2$, $p < 0.01$), and shorter hospital stays ($5.2 \pm 1.1$ days vs. $8.4 \pm 1.8$ days, $p < 0.05$). However, ORN maintained a shorter mean operative time ($115.4 \pm 22.1$ min vs. $142.6 \pm 28.5$ min, $p < 0.05$). Postoperative complication rates were lower in the LRN group ($10.7\%$ vs. $21.8\%$). No significant variance was noted in short-term renal function at 3 months ($p = 0.64$). In conclusion, LRN offers significant minimally invasive advantages and faster recovery without compromising safety, making it the preferred approach for localized renal masses.