Objectives To investigate the feasibility and the clinical effect of retroperitoneal laparoscopic nephrectomy. Methods Total 32 cases were performed retroperitoneal laparoscopic nephrectomy from June 2006 to Jan 2010, including 8 cases had hydronephrosis and non - functioning kidney with ureteropelvic junction obstruction,10 cases had hydmnephrosis and nonfunctioning kidney with calculi, 11 cases had nonfunctioning kidney with tuberculous and 3 cases had atrophyorenal. Results All operations were succeeded and effective. none changed to open operation during surgery. The operating time was 80 ～ 180 min with an average of (105±27)min;the blood loss volume was 20 ～210 mL, the mean blood loss was (95±15)mL;All patients were discharged 5 to 7 days after operation, the mean blood loss was (95 ± 15)mL. All patients did not receive blood transfusion and had no serivious complication. Conclusions Retroperitoneal laparoscopic nephrectomy for nonfunctioning kidney is proved to be efective with minimal invasion,quicker recovery procedre and less complication. It can be used as the perferred method of clinical simple nephrectomy.