Robotic partial nephrectomy for caliceal diverticulum: a single-center case series

The aim of this study is to examine the role of robotic partial nephrectomy (RPN) in the management of caliceal diverticula by assessing our single-center outcomes. Between July 2007 and July 2013, 7 of 670 patients underwent RPN procedures as a reason of caliceal diverticula. The indications for RPN in all cases were recurrent urinary tract infection and pain attributed to the diverticulum in addition to failed management by endourologic or extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (SWL) treatments. One patient with a calcified diverticulum and another with an unsuccessful SWL treatment underwent RPN without further endourologic intervention. The other five patients had a history of unsuccessful percutaneous nephrolithotomy (one case), ureteroscopy (URS) (two cases), and a combination of SWL+URS (two cases). No intraoperative or postoperative complications were observed. No patient was readmitted postoperatively. Unique features of the robotic platform facilitate the excision of diverticulum and subsequent kidney reconstruction for this benign, but complex pathology.