AIM: To report the feasibility and safety of a robotic-assisted laparoscopic pyeloplasty (RALP) in patients weighing < 10 kg.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three patients weighing between 5 and 8 kg who were affected by severe congenital ureteropelvic junction obstruction, including a child with solitary kidney, were subjected to RALP. Three trocars were placed; sutures and pyeloplasty remodeling were performed with interrupted stitches. A double J stent was inserted through a 2-mm transparietal angiocatheter to protect the pyelic suture.
RESULTS: The procedures were all completed within 90 minutes, the "docking" time requiring 20 minutes. The patients were discharged on postoperative day 2, without any complications.
CONCLUSIONS: Comprehensive assessment of pyelic suture in a very narrow field with 2 operative instruments is feasible and safe. Robotic pyeloplasty provides all the advantages of mini-invasive surgery with the added advantage of higher magnification and excellent surgical navigation in very small spaces and on fragile infant tissues.
Written by:
Pelizzo G, Nakib G, Goruppi I, Avolio L, Romano P, Raffaele A, Scorletti F, Mencherini S, Calcaterra V. Are you the author?
Departments of Pediatric Surgery; Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care; Pediatrics, IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo Foundation, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy.
Reference: Surg Laparosc Endosc Percutan Tech. 2014 Feb;24(1):e29-31.
doi: 10.1097/SLE.0b013e31828e3f18
PubMed Abstract
PMID: 24487172
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