Robotic Assisted Pyeloplasty

ROBOTIC PYELOPLASTY

Robotic surgery for treating symptomatic UPJ obstruction has significant benefits to the patient, including reduced blood loss and transfusions, reduced pain, shorter hospital stays, improved cosmesis, and a faster recovery as compared to open surgery. As such, it has become the standard of care for the surgical management of UPJ obstruction. Published outcomes of laparoscopic pyeloplasty appear comparable to open pyeloplasty results in terms resolution of obstruction and symptoms.

ADVANTAGES:

• Success rate in terms of complete radiographic resolution of the obstruction is approximatel0y 90% with symptomatic relief in approximately 95%. In comparison, endoscopic techniques such as endopyelotomy are associated with a 70% success rate. Balloon dilation of a UPJ obstruction is rarely a long term solution for this condition.
• Patients with a prior history of multiple and extensive abdominal surgery esp. kidney surgery may have excessive scarring around the kidney and renal pelvis, and therefore may not be ideal candidates for a laparoscopic approach. In such cases an open approach may be required. Patients with medical conditions such as severe lung and heart disease may not be able to tolerate a laparoscopic approach due to the need for a general anaesthetic.