Repeat partial nephrectomy: surgical, functional and oncological outcomes

Purpose of review The greater utilization of partial nephrectomy and ablative procedures has increased the incidence of patients presenting with local renal recurrence. The choice to either perform a partial or radical nephrectomy in these situations can be a challenging decision. Recent findings Repeat and salvage partial nephrectomy, while challenging and potentially associated with increased complications, offers patients the ability to maintain excellent renal functional outcomes and promising oncologic outcomes at intermediate follow-up. Summary Surgeons should be familiar with the surgical complications and the functional and oncologic outcomes of reoperative nephron-sparing surgery (NSS). Recent data and outcome analysis support utilization of these procedures in patients presenting with either local recurrence or de-novo lesions in the ipsilateral kidney.