When compared with placebo recipients, patients on octreotide experienced a significant increase in sensory and pain thresholds. A long-term, controlled trial is currently underway at Mayo Clinic to evaluate the effects of this medication in patients with noncardiac chest pain. A hand-assisted laparoscopic nephrectomy can easily be converted to the standard procedure if the need arises. Consequently, patient discomfort and the need for postoperative painkillers are reduced. Shortened recovery time usually trims the hospital stay from five days to two.
Patients also appreciate the improved cosmetic result of smaller scars.
The procedure requires three small holes in the abdomen to insert the laparoscopic equipment and a small incision for the surgeon's hand. Using the equipment and the hand together, the surgeon detaches the kidney from major blood vessels and the ureter and pulls the organ out through the incision. The hand-assisted surgery takes about two hours, about the same time as regular surgery. It can easily be converted to the standard procedure if the need arises, as may be the case when the tumor is too large or there's difficulty visualizing the kidney with the camera. Since this procedure was introduced last August, seven patients have undergone the treatment with success.