Selective parenchymal clamping in open partial nephrectomy: early experience with a low cost, reusable novel parenchymal clamp

Objectives: The objective of this study is to present our initial experience with a novel parenchymal clamp (NPC) developed to allow partial nephrectomies (PN) to be performed without whole kidney ischaemia. We compare patients who underwent PN with the NPC with those undergoing standard PNs. Methods: The NPC applies pressure only to the portion of the parenchyma containing the small renal mass (≤3.5 cm) and interrupts regional blood flow. A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients that underwent open PN within our unit. Minimum follow-up was 12 months. Patient and disease characteristics, perioperative outcomes and renal function estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) were compared. Results: Data were collected on 63 patients, of whom 33 had their procedure performed with the NPC. Demographic characteristics and comorbidity profiles were not significantly different between groups (p between 1.0 and 0.08). RENAL nephrometry scores were 5.6 in the NPC group versus 6.2 in the standard PN group (p = 0.146). Perioperative, operative and postoperative data did not show significant differences. There was no difference in the rates of Clavien-Dindo III or above complications between the two groups (NPC 3/33 vs. standard PN 5/30, p = 0.416). There was also no statistically significant difference to changes in renal functional at 12 months (change −5.2 and −6.4, p = 0.712). Conclusions: Despite the limited sample size and follow-up, this study establishes the safety of the NPC. In the future, we intend to perform a prospective study on the laparoscopic version.