Robot-assisted laparoscopic pyeloplasty (RALP) in children with complex pelvi-ureteric junction obstruction (PUJO): results of a multicenter European report

Purpose This study aimed to report a multi-institutional retrospective case series of outcomes after robot-assisted laparoscopic pyeloplasty (RALP) in pediatric patients with complex pelvi-ureteric junction obstruction (PUJO). Methods All patients undergoing complex RALP over the last 5 years were included. RALP was defined complex in the following cases of PUJO: anatomic variations including ectopic, malrotated, horseshoe, or duplex kidney and recurrent PUJO after failed open pyeloplasty. Results Forty-eight patients underwent complex RALP in four European centers in the study period and included 18 girls and 30 boys with a median age of 8 years (range 5–12). The PUJO was associated with anatomic variations in 35/48 (72.9%), whereas a recurrent PUJO was present in 13/48 (27.1%). A dismembered Anderson–Hynes pyeloplasty was performed in all patients. The median operative time including docking was 178.5 min (range 117–255) and the median anastomotic time was 64.8 min (range 50–76). All patients were discharged on 2nd postoperative day (POD). The median follow-up was 18.2 months (range 14–43). The overall success rate was 95.8% (46/48). Early postoperative complications ( 30th POD) included recurrence of PUJO in 2/48 (4.2%), who needed re-operation [IIIb Clavien]. Conclusions RALP was safe, feasible, and with good mid-term outcome in complex PUJO. An accurate pre-operative planning, a standardized technique, and an experienced surgical robotic team represented key points to manage successfully such complex cases.