Background: Laparoendoscopic single-site surgery （LESS） may serve as a potential alternative to conventional laparoscopy and is developing quickly

but still in its infancy. The study is to present our two-year experience in transumbilical LESS simple nephrectomy （LESS-SN） for non-functioning kidney

in an effort to evaluate its feasibility

clinical outcomes and potential advantages. Methods: From December 2008 to December 2010

a total of 11 patients with body mass index （BMI） ≤30 underwent transumbilical TriPort TM LESS-SN by a single experienced urologist at our institution. The indications for nephrectomy included nonfunctioning kidney associated with ureteropelvic junctionstricture （n=1）

ureteral calculi （n=6）

tuberculosis （n=3）

and ureteral stricture （n=1）. Patient demographics

perioperative and follow-up data were prospectively collected and analyzed. Results: Ten procedures were successfully completed with one patient converted to open surgery due to uncontrollable bleeding. The mean operative time was 189.2 （ranging 100

3

20 min） with an estimated blood loss of 204.5 （ranging 50-1 000 ml）. There were two complications of bleeding （1- intra-

1- post-）. The mean hospitalization after surgery was 7.9 d （ranging 4-17 d）. With a regular follow-up of 1

6

12

and 24 months after surgery

all patients remained symptom-free with an intra-umbilical scar. Conclusion: Transumbilical LESS simple nephrectomy for nonfunctioning kidney can be accomplished with favorable surgical outcomes and a superiority of cosmesis. However

cases with chronic inflammation are not suitable for initial up-take and should only be attempted by the very experienced laparoscopist.