Transperitoneal Versus Retroperitoneal Robotic-assisted Laparoscopic Pyeloplasty for Ureteropelvic Junction Obstruction in Children. A Multicentre, Prospective Study

Abstract

Robotic-assisted laparoscopic pyeloplasty (RALP) has been gaining acceptance among paediatric urologists. To compare surgical variables and clinical outcomes, including complications and success rate, with RALP using the transperitoneal (T-RALP) and retroperitoneal (R-RALP) approaches. We performed a multicentre, prospective, cohort study (NCT03274050) between November 2016 and October 2021 in three paediatric urology teaching centres (transperitoneal approach, n = 2; retroperitoneal approach, n = 1). The diagnosis of ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO) was confirmed by renal ultrasound and mercaptoacetyltriglycine-3 renal scan or uro–magnetic resonance imaging with functional evaluation. The exclusion criteria were children <2 yr old, persistent UPJO after failed pyeloplasty, and horseshoe and ectopic kidney. We performed dismembered pyeloplasty using running monofilament 6-0 absorbable suture. We assessed intra- and postoperative morbidity (primary outcome) and success (secondary outcome). Data were expressed as medians and interquartile range (25th and 75th percentiles) for quantitative variables, and analysed comparatively. We operated on 106 children (T-RALP, n = 53; R-RALP, n = 53). Preoperative data were comparable between groups (median age 9.1 [6.2–11.2] yr; median weight 26.8 [21–40] kg). Set-up time (10 vs 31 min), anastomotic time (49 vs 73 min), and console time (97 vs 153 min) were significantly shorter with T-RALP than with R-RALP (p < 0.001). No intraoperative complications occurred. No conversion to open surgery was necessary. The median hospital stay was longer after T-RALP (2 d) than after R-RALP (1 d; p < 0.001). Overall, postoperative complication rates were similar. No failure had occurred at the mean follow-up of 25.4 (15.1–34.7) mo. In selected children, RALP is safe and effective using either the transperitoneal or the retroperitoneal approach, with a shorter hospital stay after R-RALP. In our multicentre, prospective study, we compared the results and complications of robotic-assisted laparoscopic pyeloplasty (RALP) using the transperitoneal and retroperitoneal approaches. We found that RALP is safe and effective using either approach, with a shorter hospital stay after R-RALP.