Laparoscopic transperitoneal dismembered pyeloplasty for ureteropelvic junction obstruction

To review the outcome of transperitoneal laparoscopic dismembered pyeloplasty (LDP) in our institution.

From April 2001 to April 2005, 36 men and 34 women underwent LDP for symptomatic and radiologically proved ureteropelvic junction (UPJ) obstruction. A successful outcome was defined clinically by improvement in symptoms and objectively by improvement in the diuretic renography study performed at 3 and 12 months after reconstruction.

The mean operative time was 160.5 +/- 45 minutes with a mean blood loss of 77.8 +/- 52.8 mL. There were no conversions to open surgery. Lower-pole vessels were observed in 38 patients (54.3%). In all cases, the ureter was transposed anteriorly. The mean hospital stay was 3.3 +/- 2.1 days. Postoperative complications were recorded in 4 patients (5.7%). One patient developed an anastomotic stricture. A successful outcome was achieved in 68 of the 70 patients (97.1%) at a mean follow-up of 27.6 +/- 13.2 months.

Our results further strengthen the evidence that LDP has a reliable medium-term outcome with the added benefit of being minimally invasive.