Canine model of surgical stress response comparing standard laparoscopic, microlaparoscopic, and hand-assisted laparoscopic nephrectomy

HALS nephrectomy was associated with a greater operative stress response in the first 2 postoperative hours in dogs compared with standard laparoscopic and microlaparoscopic nephrectomy that was partially ameliorated by the lower intraoperative cortisol production in the more rapid HALS procedure. Microlaparoscopy provided no benefit in terms of reduced surgical stress. The stress differences among the techniques were insignificant by 4 hours postoperatively.