Surgeon Characteristics and Long-Term Trends in the Adoption of Laparoscopic Radical Nephrectomy

Urologist adoption of laparoscopic radical nephrectomy increased progressively from 1995 through 2005 and was influenced by urologist proximity to training, academic affiliation and rural/urban status. These data clarify residual barriers to surgeon adoption of laparoscopic radical nephrectomy and potentially of other innovative surgical therapies.