Robotic approach to the uretero‐vesical junction in children: An international multicentric retrospective study

Abstract

BackgroundRobot‐assisted approach to UVJ is getting more and more used in pediatric patients.MethodsIn this retrospective study 26 patients affected by nephro‐urological malformations, robotic‐surgically treated from 2016 and 2021 at 3 Pediatric Surgery Department were included: 3 (11.5%) primary obstructive megaureter, 2 (7.7%) dysplastic kidneys, 3 (11.5%) duplex collecting system, 18 (69.2%) primary vescico‐ureteral reflux (VUR).ResultsMean age at surgery was 6 years old. 22 (84.6%) underwent Lich Gregoire extravesical ureteral reimplantation, 4 (15.4%) total nephroureterectomy. Mean operative time was 230 min. No conversions or intraoperative complications. Median hospital stay was 4 days. There were 4 (15.38%) postoperative complications: 3 (11.54%) persistent VUR and 1 (3.84%) refluxing megaureter. 2 (7.7%) redo‐surgery.ConclusionsRobotic Surgery should be considered a safe and effective technique for treatment of UVJ anomalies in children, because it firstly allows surgeons to approach both upper and lower ureteral ends without modifying trocars’ placement.