Objective:

To compare the trans and postoperative outcomes (surgical time, intraoperative bleeding volume, and days of hospital stay) in patients undergoing nephrectomy by open approach versus laparoscopic approach.

Material and methods:

Retrospective, observational and analytical analysis; We include demographic variables, type of pathology, type of surgical approach and outcomes with descriptive statistics (measures of central tendency and dispersion) and comparative analysis between groups (x2 and Mann-Whitney U test), we consider statistically significant differences when p≤ 0.05.

Results:

We analyzed files of 66 women (65.3%) and 35 men (34.7%); 66 (65.3%) had benign pathology and 35 (34.7%) with malignant pathology. Open nephrectomy was performed in 67 (66.3%) patients and laparoscopic nephrectomy in 34 (33.7%) patients. There were no differences regarding gender, age, type of pathology and surgical time. The volume of bleeding and the days of hospital stay were significantly lower in patients with laparoscopic nephrectomy (p = 0.001 and p = 0.041, respectively).

Limitations of the study or implications:

Retrospective study.

Originality or value:

First report that describes the postsurgical results in nephrectomies performed by open and laparoscopic approach in the south of the country.

Conclusions:

Our results are consistent with current evidence regarding the benefits of laparoscopic nephrectomy over open nephrectomy.