OBJECTIVE: To compare the clinical efficacy of transumbilical single-port multichannel laparoscopy with that of standard transabdominal laparoscopy for non-functional nephrectomy. METHODS: From September 2009 to August 2013, 72 minimally invasive non-functional nephrectomies were performed in the same surgical group in our unit, of which 50 were standard transabdominal laparoscopic procedures and 22 were transumbilical single-port multi-channel laparoscopic procedures, and the clinical data of the two groups were retrospectively analyzed to compare the clinical efficacy. RESULTS: All 72 surgeries were successful, and there was no intermediate open surgery. The postoperative pain scores (4.3±1.0 vs. 3.7±0.8, P=0.015), recovery time of postoperative bowel ventilation [(58.1±16.1) h vs. (49.2±14.0) h, P=0.032)], postoperative indwelling drainage tube time [(3.9±1.5) d vs. ,P=0.003)], postoperative hospital stay [(7.3±3.1)d vs (6.3±3.4)d,P=0.048], and surgical incision satisfaction (7.4±0.9 vs 8.0±0.6,P=0.001) were statistically significant differences. The differences in operative time and intraoperative bleeding between the two groups were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Compared with standard transabdominal laparoscopic nephrectomy without function, transumbilical single-port laparoscopic surgery has the advantages of mild postoperative pain, rapid recovery of intestinal ventilation, early drainage tube removal, and high incisional satisfaction, but the long-term efficacy remains to be observed.