[Robot-assisted and laparoscopic pyeloplasty.]

OBJECTIVES: Uretero-pelvic junction (UPJ) obstruction has been classically treated by open dismembered pyeloplasty. Recently, laparoscopic (LP) and robotic pyeloplasty (RP) have become the techniques of choice for the treatment of UPJ stenosis in adult and pediatric population. Our objective in this paper is to review the results of minimally invasive surgery as the treatment of UPJ obstruction, the trend to use these approaches and the current limits of LP and RP.

METHODS: A review of most relevant papers and meta-analysis about LP and RP in pediatric and adult population was performed using PubMed.

RESULTS: In pediatric population, comparative studies and meta-analysis of relevant series show an overlap of results between LP, RP and open surgery in terms of success rate, rate of complications and hospital stay, being operating time shorter in open pyeloplasty compared to minimally invasive techniques. In infants and pre-school age open surgery remains as technique of choice for pediatric surgeons. In adults, comparative studies and meta-analysis of the most relevant series show also an overlap of results in terms of success rate and complication rate between LP and RP. Nonetheless, minimally invasive techniques seem to offer a significant shortening of hospital stay and need for analgesics compared to open surgery, reason why laparoscopic techniques are recommended over open pyeloplasty in adult population.

CONCLUSIONS: In view of published literature, minimally invasive surgery has been postulated as the standard treatment in UPJ stenosis, with superimposable results to open surgery. The high cost of robotic approach limits its use in this type of pathology.