Da Vinci robot assisted Anderson-Hynes dismembered pyeloplasty: technique and 1 year follow-up

In experienced hands, laparoscopic pyeloplasty is an effective alternative treatment for symptomatic ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO). Although laparoscopic surgery can clearly benefit patients, laparoscopic pyeloplasty using conventional instrumentation is complex. The purpose of this report is to evaluate the feasibility of robot assisted laparoscopic surgery. Eleven pyeloplasties for UPJO were performed via a laparoscopic transperitoneal approach exclusively with the da Vinci Surgical System. The mean procedure time was 197 min (range 110–310 min). All operations were completed laparoscopically with no intraoperative complications and negligible blood loss. All patients recovered rapidly after surgery with excellent functional results at the 1 year follow-up. Our initial experience suggests that robot assisted Anderson-Hynes pyeloplasty is a safe and effective alternative to conventional laparoscopic surgery. In our opinion, robot assisted surgery will allow urologists to perform complex procedures with greater precision, confidence, and better results, as well as enable them to adapt the whole spectrum of laparoscopic procedures to their field.