Robot-assisted Laparoscopic Urachal Excision in Children.

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Surgery
• Minimally Invasive Surgery
• Urology

Background:

• Urachal remnants are congenital anomalies that can lead to complications.
• Surgical excision is the standard treatment for symptomatic urachal remnants.
• Minimally invasive techniques are increasingly being explored for pediatric urological procedures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present the initial pediatric experience with robot-assisted urachal remnant excision.
• To evaluate the safety and efficacy of this minimally invasive approach in children.
• To establish a benchmark for robot-assisted urachal remnant excision in pediatric patients.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective review of medical records was conducted for all pediatric patients undergoing robot-assisted urachal remnant excision between 2010 and 2016.
• A standardized 3-port robotic approach was utilized for all procedures.
• Surgical outcomes, including operative time, length of stay, and complications, were analyzed.

Main Results:

• Sixteen robot-assisted urachal remnant excisions were performed in children aged 0.8 to 16.5 years.
• Complete excision was achieved in all cases, with no conversions to open surgery.
• The median operative time was 107 minutes, and the length of stay was 1-2 days. One complication of bladder leak required open repair.

Conclusions:

• Robot-assisted urachal remnant excision is a safe and effective minimally invasive option for pediatric patients.
• This approach offers comparable outcomes to traditional methods with potential benefits of reduced morbidity.
• This series represents the largest reported pediatric cohort for robot-assisted urachal remnant excision.