Laparoscopic robotic takedown ureterostomy with extravesical cross-trigonal reimplantation after end cutaneous ureterostomy.

Introduction: The main goal of managing an obstructed megaureter (OMU) is to preserve the function of the affected kidney. To preserve the upper urinary tract, end cutaneous ureterostomy (ECU) seems to be a promising temporizing option. We aimed to evaluate our experience with ECU in patients with primary and secondary OMU and to demonstrate an efficacy of robot-assisted laparoscopic takedown ureterostomy and subsequent extravesical ureteric reimplantation.

Materials and methods: Retrospective analysis of patients that underwent ECU due to primary or secondary megaureter between 2003 and 2020. Nineteen patients (12 males, 7 females) with a mean age of 4.2 ± 3.5 months (mean ± standard deviation) underwent ECU of 27 renal units. Of those, 11 (57.9%) had primary OMU and 8 (42.1%) had secondary OMU. Undiversion was performed in 16 (84%) out of 19 patients (20 renal units out of 27 [74%]).

Results: In the vast majority of the cases, we have observed improvement in the hydronephrosis and renal function after ureterostomy. After reimplantation ultrasonography showed either stable or further improvement in hydronephrosis in 80% of patients. Robot-assisted laparoscopic patients had shorter admission period and indwelling catheter time after the surgery.

Conclusions: End cutaneous ureterostomy is a safe and effective temporary procedure for the treatment of progressive primary and secondary megaureters. Robot-assisted laparoscopic takedown of ureterostomy with subsequent reimplantation seems to be a good alternative for undiversion and subsequent reimplantation in these patients.