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Introduction: Conservative management of primary obstructive megaureter (POM) appears as the best option in patients with adequate ureteral drainage. Nevertheless, surgical intervention is indicated in cases of recurrent urinary tract Infections (UTIs), deterioration of split renal function, and significant obstruction. The gold standard includes: Ureteral reimplantation with or without tapering by open approach. Our objective is to report our results in the treatment of POM by Laparoscopic-Assisted Extracorporeal Ureteral Tapering Repair (EUTR) and Laparoscopic Ureteral Extravesical Reimplantation (LUER) and to evaluate the efficacy and security of this procedure. Materials and Methods: From January 2011 to January 2018 a retrospective study was carried out by reviewing the clinical records of 26 patients diagnosed with POM. All patients underwent laparoscopic ureteral reimplantation following Lich Gregoir technique. In cases of ureteral tapering, an EUTR was performed with Hendren technique. Results: In all patients LUER and EUTR were performed without conversion. No ureteral tapering was necessary in six patients. There were no intraoperative complications. At 3 months in postoperative, 1 patient presented a febrile UTI, and subsequently, a vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) grade III was diagnosed by voiding cystourethrogram. In this case, a redo laparoscopic surgery was performed. After long-term follow-up, all patients were asymptomatic without recurrence of POM or VUR. Conclusion: Laparoscopic-assisted EUTR and LUER following Lich Gregoir technique for POM constitutes a safe and effective option, with a success rate similar to that of open procedure. Nevertheless, larger randomized prospective trials and long-term follow-up are required to validate this technique.

Background: Robot-assisted extravesical ureteral reimplantation (REVUR) is a well established approach for surgical treatment of pediatric vesicoureteral reflux (VUR). However, further evidence is needed to confirm its efficacy even in case of complex anatomy., Objective: This study aimed to further confirm the evidence that REVUR is safe and effective in both simple and complex ureter anatomy., Study Design: The charts of all patients with VUR, who received REVUR in 6 different institutions over a 5-year period, were retrospectively reviewed. Patients with both simple and complex ureter anatomy were included. Patient demographics, surgical variables, and post-operative results were assessed. VUR resolution was defined as either being resolved VUR on voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG) or clinically without symptoms during the follow-up., Results: Fifty-seven patients with median age of 6.9 years (range 4.5-12), receiving REVUR in the study period, were included. Eighteen (31.6%) patients had complex anatomy and included prior failed endoscopic injection (n = 13), complete ureteral duplication (n = 2), periureteral diverticulum (n = 2), ectopic megaureter requiring dismembering (n = 1). The median operative time was 155 min for unilateral and 211.5 min for bilateral repairs. The clinical + radiographic VUR resolution rate was 96.5%. Post-operative complications (Clavien 2) included urinary retention following bilateral repair (n = 5, 8.7%), febrile urinary tract infection (UTI) (n = 6, 10.5%) and gross hematuria (n = 3, 5.2%). Comparative analysis between simple and complex cases showed that REVUR was faster in simple cases in both unilateral [p = 0.002] and bilateral repair [p = 0.001] and post-operative urinary retention was more frequent in simple cases [p = 0.004] and in patients with pre-operative bowel and bladder dysfunction (BBD) [p = 0.001] (Table)., Discussion: This series confirmed that the robot-assisted technique was feasible even in cases with complex anatomy using some technical refinements, that justified the longer operative times in both unilateral and bilateral cases. An interesting finding of this study was the correlation emerged between BBD and risk of post-operative urinary retention and VUR persistence. Our results also excluded any significant correlation between complex cases and risk of post-operative urinary retention. The main study limitations included the retrospective and nonrandomized design, the small number of cases and the arbitrary definition of complex anatomy., Conclusion: REVUR was safe and effective for management of VUR in both simple and complex ureter anatomy. Complex REVUR required slightly longer operative times, without significant differences in post-operative mordidity and success rates. Aside from complex anatomy, BBD emerged as the main risk factor associated with surgical failure and post-operative morbidity., Competing Interests: Conflicts of interest The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Journal of Pediatric Urology Company. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: The selection of best surgical approach for treatment of vesico-ureteral reflux (VUR) in the pediatric population remains debated. This study aimed to report the results of a multicenter survey about the current trends in surgical management of pediatric VUR., Methods: An online questionnaire-based survey was performed, with participation of six international institutions. All children (age <18 years) affected by primary III-V grade VUR, who were operated over the last 5 years, were included. The incidence of each VUR intervention, patients' demographics and outcomes were analyzed., Results: A total of 552 patients (331 girls), with a median age of 4.6 years (range 0.5-17.6), were included. Deflux ® injection (STING) was the most common technique (70.1%). The multicenter success rate after single treatment was significantly lower after STING (74.4%) compared with the other treatments (P=0.001). Persistent VUR rate was significantly higher after STING (10.8%) compared with the other treatments (P=0.03). Choosing endoscopy over surgery mean reducing Clavien Dindo grade 2 complications by 5% but increasing redo procedure rate by 7%. STING was the most cost-effective option., Conclusions: This survey confirmed that the choice of the technique remains based on surgeon's preference. Deflux ® injection currently represents the first line therapy for primary VUR in children and the role of surgical ureteral reimplantation is significantly reduced. STING reported acceptable success rate, less postoperative complications and lower costs but higher failure and re-operation rates and related costs compared with the other surgical approaches. The adoption of laparoscopy and robotics over open reimplantation remains still limited.

Objectives: To assess and compare postoperative bladder dysfunction rates and outcomes after laparoscopic and robot-assisted extravesical ureteric reimplantation in children and to identify risk factors associated with bladder dysfunction., Patients and Methods: A total of 151 children underwent minimally invasive extravesical ureteric reimplantation in five international centres of paediatric urology over a 5-year period (January 2013-January 2018). The children were divided in two groups according to surgical approach: group 1 underwent laporoscopic reimplantation and included 116 children (92 girls and 24 boys with a median age of 4.5 years), while group 2 underwent robot-assisted reimplantation and included 35 children (29 girls and six boys with a median age of 7.5 years). The two groups were compared with regard to: procedure length; success rate; postoperative complication rate; and postoperative bladder dysfunction rate (acute urinary retention [AUR] and voiding dysfunction). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to assess predictors of postoperative bladder dysfunction. Factors assessed included age, gender, laterality, duration of procedure, pre-existing bladder and bowel dysfunction (BBD) and pain control., Results: The mean operating time was significantly longer in group 2 compared with group 1, for both unilateral (159.5 vs 109.5 min) and bilateral procedures (202 vs 132 min; P = 0.001). The success rate was significantly higher in group 2 than in group 1 (100% vs 95.6%; P = 0.001). The overall postoperative bladder dysfunction rate was 8.6% and no significant difference was found between group 1 (6.9%) and group 2 (14.3%; P = 0.17). All AUR cases were managed with short-term bladder catheterization except for two cases (1.3%) in group 1 that required short-term suprapubic catheterization. Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that bilateral pathology, pre-existing BBD and duration of procedure were predictors of postoperative bladder dysfunction (P = 0.001)., Conclusion: Our results confirmed that short-term bladder dysfunction is a possible complication of extravesical ureteric reimplantation, with no significant difference between the laparoscopic and robot-assisted approaches. Bladder dysfunction occurred more often after bilateral repairs, but required suprapubic catheterization in only 1.3% of cases. Bilaterality, pre-existing BBD and duration of surgery were confirmed on univariate and multivariate analyses as predictors of postoperative bladder dysfunction in this series., (© 2019 The Authors BJU International © 2019 BJU International Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Open surgery is a preferred treatment for primary obstructive megaureter (POM) in cases where the conservative treatment fails, with reported success rates of 90%-96%., Objective: To describe our initial experience in the treatment of POM by laparoscopic-assisted extracorporeal ureteral tapering repair (EUTR) and laparoscopic ureteral extravesical reimplantation (LUER) by following Lich Gregoir technique as an alternative to open surgery., Design, Setting, and Participants: A total of 7 patients with POM underwent laparoscopic-assisted extracorporeal ureteral tapering repair and ureteral extravesical reimplantation by following Lich Gregoir technique between 2011 and 2014. Postoperative follow-up included the following: Renal and bladder ultrasound, voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG), and mercaptoacetyltriglycine (MAG3) renogram were done at 6 months. Outcome Measurements and Statistical Analysis: Statistical analysis was performed by using the SPSS software package (version 15.0; SPSS, Chicago, IL), and P < .05 was considered statistically significant. Paired tests and Wilcoxon test were performed to compare pre- and post-measures., Results: LUER and EUTR were completed successfully in all patients without conversion. A postoperative MAG3 renogram showed nonobstructive pattern in all patients. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences before and after surgery in the average time of elimination on the MAG3 renogram (T½ 59.10 minutes versus 13.57 minutes, P < .0001). After medium-term follow-up, the overall POM resolution was 100%. One case of vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) was found during VCUG control. A total of 7 patients were asymptomatic without recurrence of POM., Conclusion: Laparoscopic-assisted extracorporeal ureteral tapering repair and ureteral extravesical reimplantation by following Lich Gregoir technique for POM constitutes a safe and good option when the first line of treatment fails, with a success rate similar to the open procedure. Nevertheless, larger randomized prospective trials and long-term follow-up are required to validate this technique.

Introduction: Vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) represents one of the most significant risk factors for acute pyelonephritis in children. Nephropathy with renal scarring is still the most concerning issue in VUR. Surgical correction to eliminate VUR is an important part of its management and this need is increasing for duplicated collecting systems (DCS). Laparoscopy may have a place in the treatment of VUR. We report our initial experience in the treatment of refluxing DCS by laparoscopic extravesical transperitoneal approach (LETA) following Lich-Gregoir technique. The aim of this study was to describe the evolution and evaluate the results and benefits of this technique., Materials and Methods: Between August 2007 and January 2010, 60 renal units in 43 children with VUR and deterioration of renal function on isotope renography were treated with LETA following the Lich-Gregoir procedure. Twelve patients had refluxing DCS in a lower polar system; three of them had bilateral VUR. Three cases of refluxing DCS were associated to obstruction. Two of them presented an ectopic ureterocele with adequate split renal function and another had an ectopic ureterocele with complete deterioration of upper polar renal function. Their mean age was 36 months (range: 15-80 months)., Results: The mean surgical time was 90 minutes (38-140 minutes) in unilateral and 144 minutes (120-200 minutes) in bilateral VUR including cystoscopy. All procedures were successfully completed laparoscopically and the reflux was corrected in all patients. One-stage laparoscopic heminephroureterectomy with excision of ureterocele and ureteric reimplantation was done in 1 case, and ureterocele excision and ureteric reimplantation by LETA were done in 2 cases. The mean hospital stay was 27 hours. A cystogram was performed systematically in all patients at 45 days postoperatively; none of them presented recurrence of VUR. The follow-up period was 11 months (range: 2-24 months), without recurrence of VUR., Conclusion: LETA following the Lich-Gregoir procedure in refluxing DCS is a safe and effective approach even in unilateral, bilateral simultaneous, and split renal function in duplicated systems. When refluxing DCS is associated with obstruction and total deterioration of upper polar function, heminephroureterectomy with excision of ureterocele and ureteric reimplantation can be safely and effectively performed in a single-stage laparoscopic procedure, which minimizes the hazards of traditional open surgical reconstruction. A shorter hospital stay, decreased postoperative discomfort, reduced recovery period, and a low morbidity to resolve VUR in DCS are the benefits of this technique, with success rates similar to the open technique.

Purpose: To report our initial experience with laparoscopic pyeloplasty (LP) in children with pelvi-ureteric junction (PUJ) obstruction, and to describe the evolution and evaluate the results for these patients., Materials and Methods: Between May 2005 and April 2008, we retrospectively reviewed the records of 28 consecutive infants and children (20 males, eight females; mean age 63 months, range 2-180 months) with unilateral PUJ obstruction, some with deterioration of renal function on isotope renography. They all underwent LP (18 on the right, 10 on the left). The patient was placed in a (3/4) lateral position with three ports. The PUJ was resected and the anastomosis made using absorbable sutures. A JJ stent was inserted by laparoscopy in the majority of patients. Follow-up included clinical and ultrasound assessment, and isotope renography at 6 months., Results: LP was feasible in 26 of 28 patients (93%). The procedure could not be completed by laparoscopy in two patients, the main reason being difficulty in completing the anastomosis. Stent insertion was successful in 25 of the remaining 26 cases. In the one unsuccessful case, a perianastomotic drain was placed without complication in the postoperative period. An aberrant crossing vessel was found in four patients. In two we held up the aberrant crossing vessel and PUJ by 2-3 non-absorbable sutures without tension, and without the need for pyeloplasty. In the other two cases we performed an LP-enabled ureteric transposition. There were three postoperative complications: pyelonephritis in two patients and one patient required operative intervention for PUJ leakage, and underwent a nephrostomy with a further uneventful course. The mean operative time was 145 min (range 70-270 min), and mean hospital stay was 4 (1-8) days. In one patient the JJ time of removal by cystoscopy, and ureteroscopy was used to retrieve it. Mean follow-up was 18 months (range 4-64 months). The 26 patients who underwent LP were asymptomatic after removal of the double JJ stent, showing reduction of the degree of hydronephrosis in all patients, and had also improved PUJ drainage on isotope renography or sonography., Conclusions: LP is effective and safe in children with minimal morbidity and gives excellent short-term results. The feasibility is also excellent in patients younger than 1 year. The transabdominal approach revealed good exposition without disadvantage to the patient. However, the LP is more difficult and the operative time remains longer than open pyeloplasty.