Efficacy of robot-assisted laparoscopic ureteral reimplantation for primary obstructive megaureter in children

Objective To evaluate the clinical efficacy of robot-assisted laparoscopic ureteral reimplantation (RAUR) for primary obstructive megaureter (POM) in children. Methods Twenty-one patients who underwent RAUR for POM in Bayi Children’s Hospital between 2017 April and 2018 April were retrospectively analyzed. The study population consisted of 15 boys and 6 girls aged between 2 months and 11 years. Ten patients had left POMs, 9 had right POMs and two had bilateral POMs. All patients were preoperatively diagnosed with a POM based on urinary system ultrasonography, magnetic resonance urography, and diuretic renal dynamic imaging. Our main technique key steps include: Under general anesthesia, the patients were placed in a Trendelenburg position approximately 40 degrees from the horizon. An 8.5-mm camera port was placed at the level of the umbilicus. Followed by two 5-mm robotic Trocars placed under direct vision 6 cm to the camera port separately, a 5-mm assistant port was placed on the right upper abdominal quadrants which was located 3 cm from the camera and robotic port. The ureter was identified at the pelvic brim. The peritoneum covering the ureter was incised and the ureter was mobilized to the level of the vesico-ureteric junction. The bladder was filled with 60 ml saline and a 5 cm length and 1.5 cm wide submucosal detrusor tunnel was created. The ureter was transected at the bladder mucosa and the narrowed ureteral segment was discarded. The ureteroneocystostomy was performed using 6-0 absorbable suture. Dissecting the perivesical fascia appropriately and using down-top suturing approach, use of an apical stay stitch, and incorporation of the ureteral adventitia during detrusorraphy. Postoperative complications were analysed using the Clavien-Dindo classification. Success was defined as symptomatic relief, decreased hydronephrosis on ultrasound and no evidence of vesicoureteral reflux on voiding cystourethrography. Results All surgeries were successfully completed without conversion and no intra-operative complication was encountered. The mean operative time was 117.6±18.1(89-165)min, the mean estimated blood loss was 11.9±4.3(5-25)ml, the abdominal drainage tubes were removed after a mean of 4.9±1.1(3-8)days, and the mean postoperative hospital stay was 6.3±1.3(4-10) days. Postoperative complications (Clavien Ⅰ-Ⅱ) occurred in 9.5% (two patients had recurrent urinary tract infections postoperatively) children, no grade Ⅲ-Ⅳ complication was observed. The pre-operative symptoms in all patients disappeared. One patient had grade Ⅱ VUR on VCUG, who were followed conservatively. Ultrasound at postoperative follow-up showed that the hydronephrosis was disappeared in 20 ureters and significantly decreased in 3 ureters. The success rate was 95.7% at a mean follow-up of 16.3±4.0(10-23)months. Conclusion RAUR is a safe and feasible option for the treatment of POM in children with higher success rate and lower complication rate. Key words: Laparoscopes; Robot-assisted; Ureter reimplantation; Primary obstructive megaureter; Children