Outcomes of robot-assisted laparoscopic pyeloplasty in children: a single center experience.

OBJECTIVES Open pyeloplasty is the standard treatment for ureteropelvic junction obstruction in children. The introduction of robotic surgical system has facilitated precise intracorporeal suturing and shortened the learning curve for minimal invasive procedures for the surgeons. There is sparse data over the outcomes of robot-assisted laparoscopic pyeloplasties in children. We describe our technique and outcomes of robotic pyeloplasty in children. PATIENTS AND METHODS Operative data for all patients undergoing a robot-assisted procedure at our center is prospectively recorded in a database. We retrieved data of patients below the age of 16 years undergoing robot-assisted pyeloplasty between July 2007 to March 2011 and evaluated their operative parameters, recovery, and functional outcomes. RESULTS In the period under review, 34 pediatric patients (mean age 12 years, range 5-15 years) underwent robot-assisted laparoscopic pyeloplasty at our center. All patients underwent unilateral pyeloplasty but one patient underwent a simultaneous contralateral pyelolithotomy. The mean total operative time (range) was 105 minutes (75-190 minutes), average dissection time and the anastomosis time was 23 minutes (20-58 minutes) and 46.5 minutes (28-70 minutes) respectively. The mean blood loss was 30 mL. Follow-up of 36, 24, 18, 12, and 6 months was completed in 14, 21, 24, 28, and 31 patients respectively. Postoperatively, one patient had an omentum herniation through the camera port site and another had an ileocaecal volvulus. With a mean follow-up of 28.5 months (2-56 months), the success rate was 97% (32/33), whereas postoperatively one patient had deterioration of function. CONCLUSION Robot-assisted laparoscopic pyeloplasty is a safe and effective minimally invasive treatment modality in children.