Laparoscopic management of caliceal diverticulum

Minimally invasive approaches for the treatment of symptomatic caliceal diverticula have become the standard of care. Laparoscopy has been embraced by many urologists and now accounts for many commonly performed approaches to urologic surgery. The laparoscopic approach to treating symptomatic caliceal diverticula adds yet another tool in the urologist's armamentarium for this pathologic entity.

Laparoscopy for symptomatic caliceal diverticula can be performed on both anteriorly and posteriorly located lesions using either an intraperitoneal or extraperitoneal approach. The goals of the laparoscopic approach are similar to that of percutaneous surgery; the overlying capsule and parenchyma are excised, stones, if present are removed, and the cavity marsupialized.

The success rate for laparoscopically treated symptomatic caliceal diverticula is good with greater than 90 percent rates of cavity obliteration and stone removal and an approximately 75 percent rate of symptom resolution.

Minimally invasive approaches to urologic disease continue to advance. The laparoscopic approach to treating symptomatic caliceal diverticula provides yet another reliable method for treating this problem and should be considered by urologists versed in laparoscopic technique.