Laparoscopic nephrectomy in the first year of life

A child was found antenatally to have a cystic right kidney on maternal ultrasound. This was evaluated in the immediate postnatal period with imaging studies and confirmed to be a multicystic, dysplastic kidney. Expectant management was followed; however, the kidney was found to be unchanged in size on a 6-month ultrasound and the parents elected surgical removal rather than continued medical surveillance. A nephrectomy was performed using laparoscopic techniques rather than standard open surgery. Operating time was less than 1 hour. The patient's recovery was unremarkable.