To explore the effects of retroperitoneal laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (RLPN) on serum T lymphocyte subsets and prognosis and survival in elderly patients with T1b stage renal cell carcinoma.

The clinical data of 102 patients older than 65 years with stage T1b renal cell carcinoma admitted between January 2013 and December 2018 were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into observation group (RLPN, n=58) and control group (open partial nephrectomy, n=44) according to the surgical methods. The perioperative status of the two groups was compared. Before surgery and at 2 weeks after surgery, the renal function [serum creatinine (SCr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), glomerular filtration rate (GFR)] and T lymphocyte subgroups (CD³⁺, CD⁴⁺, CD⁴⁺/CD⁸⁺) were evaluated, and the prognosis and survival of patients were recorded.

The surgical time, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative ambulation time and hospital stay in observation group were all less than those in control group (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in renal artery occlusion time between the two groups (P>0.05). At 2 weeks after surgery, the SCr, BUN and T lymphocyte subsets (CD³⁺, CD⁴⁺, CD⁴⁺/CD⁸⁺) in the two groups were higher than those before surgery (P<0.05), and the GFR in two groups was lower than that before surgery (P<0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in the SCr, BUN, GFR, CD³⁺, CD⁴⁺ and CD⁴⁺/CD⁸⁺ after surgery between observation group and control group (P>0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in recurrence mortality rate and disease-free survival between the two groups (P>0.05).

RLPN is safe and effective in the treatment of elderly patients with T1b stage renal cell carcinoma, and the perioperative status of patients is better than open surgery.