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Multi-Institutional Review of Outcomes and Complications of Robot-Assisted Laparoscopic Extravesical Ureteral Reimplantation for Treatment of Primary Vesicoureteral Reflux in Children. J Urol 2017 Jun;197(6):1555-1561

Date

01/29/2017

Pubmed ID

28130103

DOI

10.1016/j.juro.2017.01.062

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85018727524 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   58 Citations

Abstract

PURPOSE: Robot-assisted laparoscopic extravesical ureteral reimplantation has been proposed as a minimally invasive alternative to open ureteral reimplantation for correcting primary vesicoureteral reflux in children. However, in the current literature there are conflicting data regarding the safety and efficacy of this approach. Amid ongoing debate we analyzed outcomes and complications from this procedure in a large multi-institutional cohort.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed the records of children who underwent robot-assisted laparoscopic extravesical ureteral reimplantation at 9 academic centers from 2005 to 2014. Radiographic failure was defined as persistent vesicoureteral reflux on postoperative voiding cystourethrogram or radionuclide cystogram. Complications were graded using the Clavien-Dindo scale.

RESULTS: A total of 260 patients (363 ureters) underwent robot-assisted laparoscopic extravesical ureteral reimplantation for primary vesicoureteral reflux during the study period. The cohort included 90 patients with either duplex ureter (42), failed endoscopic treatment (40) or concomitant diverticulectomy (8). Of the 280 ureters with postoperative voiding cystourethrogram or radionuclide cystogram available radiographic resolution was seen in 246 (87.9%). There were 25 complications overall (9.6%), with 7 grade 3 complications (2.7%) and no grade 4 or 5 complications. Four patients (3.9%) had transient urinary retention following bilateral reimplantation.

CONCLUSIONS: Robot-assisted laparoscopic extravesical ureteral reimplantation has a low complication rate consistent with published series of open ureteral reimplantation. Radiographic success rates are approaching those of the open procedure but continue to fall short of the gold standard approach. These findings necessitate critical thinking regarding potential technique improvements and further prospective investigation into the efficacy of this procedure.

Author List

Boysen WR, Ellison JS, Kim C, Koh CJ, Noh P, Whittam B, Palmer B, Shukla A, Kirsch A, Gundeti MS

Author

Jonathan Scott Ellison MD Associate Professor in the Urologic Surgery department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Child
Female
Humans
Laparoscopy
Male
Postoperative Complications
Replantation
Retrospective Studies
Robotic Surgical Procedures
Treatment Outcome
Ureter
Urologic Surgical Procedures
Vesico-Ureteral Reflux