Robot-assisted laparoscopic Anderson-Hynes pyeloplasty for ureteropelvic junction obstruction

OBJECTIVES: To explore surgical, functional, and symptomatic outcomes in a series of patients who underwent robot-assisted laparoscopic Anderson-Hynes pyeloplasty (RALP) for ureteropelvic junction obstruction using the DaVinci Si surgical robotic system.

METHODS: Retrospective study including patients aged 16 years or older who underwent RALP from June 2016 to December2021. The following outcomes were recorded: operative outcome and complications [classified according to the Clavien-Dindo Classification (CD)] within 30 days of the procedure as well as 1 year success rate and restenosis during follow-up.

RESULTS: In total, 194 patients were available for analyses with a median follow-up of 4.5 (IQR 3.0-6.0) years. The primary indications were loss of kidney function (45%), pain (36%), infection (11%), kidney stone (6%), and others (2%). The median operation time was 134 min (IQR 112-159), the median length of stay was 2 days (IQR 2-2), and the median time with double-j stent postoperatively was 24 days (IQR 22-27). Overall, 65 out of 194 patients (33%) experienced a postoperative complication (12% CD I, 13% CD II, 8% CD IIIa or IIIb). The 1 year success rate was 92% for patients treated because of deteriorating renal function, 78% for patients treated because of symptoms, 82% for patients treated because of infections, and 78% for patients treated because of kidney stones. Seven percent of the patients presented a recurrent ureteropelvic junction stricture during follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS: In our experience, robot-assisted laparoscopic Anderson-Hynes pyeloplasty performed with the DaVinci Si system is a safe with a few major complications and acceptable success rate.