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Updated: Aug 11, 2026
Robot-Assisted Laparoscopic Splenectomy In Children: A Case Report with Literature Review
Published on: March 27, 2026
Initial comparison of robotic-assisted laparoscopic versus open pyeloplasty in children
David S Yee1, Allan M Shanberg, Barry P Duel
1Department of Urology, Antoci Center for Pediatric Urology and Nephrology, University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine, Orange, California 92868, USA. dyee@uci.edu
Objectives:
To compare the initial results of robotic-assisted laparoscopic versus open pyeloplasty in children with ureteropelvic junction obstruction.
Methods:
From June 2002 to July 2004, 8 pediatric patients underwent robotic-assisted laparoscopic pyeloplasty and were matched by age group with patients undergoing conventional open pyeloplasty. The mean age was 11.5 years (range 6.4 to 16.5) in the robotic-assisted group and 9.8 years (range 6.0 to 15.6) in the open group. A four-port transperitoneal technique was used to perform the Anderson-Hynes pyeloplasty with the da Vinci Surgical System.
Results:
The mean operative time and estimated blood loss was 363 minutes (range 255 to 522) and 13.1 mL (range 5 to 25) in the robotic-assisted group versus 248 minutes (range 144 to 375) and 53.8 mL (range 5 to 200) in the open group, respectively. The mean length of hospitalization and pain medication use was 2.4 days (range 1 to 5) and 7.4 mg morphine (range 0 to 23) in the robotic-assisted group compared with 3.3 days (range 1 to 8) and 22.0 mg morphine (range 0 to 100) in the open group, respectively. At a mean follow-up of 14.7 months (range 2 to 24), all robotic procedures were successful as determined by subjective data using pain scales and radiologic data.
Conclusions:
Robotic-assisted laparoscopic pyeloplasty appears to decrease the length of hospitalization and use of pain medication, but has a longer operative time. Additional clinical experience is required to determine the long-term efficacy of this method.
