Citation
Zhao LC, Weinberg AC, Lee Z, Ferretti MJ, Koo HP, Metro MJ, Eun DD, Stifelman MD. Robotic Ureteral Reconstruction Using Buccal Mucosa Grafts: A Multi-institutional Experience. European urology. 2017
Abstract
Minimally invasive treatment of long, multifocal ureteral strictures or failed pyeloplasty is challenging. Robot-assisted buccal mucosa graft ureteroplasty (RBU) is a technique for ureteral reconstruction that avoids the morbidity of bowel interposition or autotransplantation. To evaluate outcomes for RBU in a multi-institutional cohort of patients treated for revision ureteropelvic junction obstruction and long or multifocal ureteral stricture at three tertiary referral centers. This retrospective study involved data for 19 patients treated with RBU at three high-volume centers between October 2013 and July 2016. RBU was performed using either an onlay graft after incising the stricture or an augmented anastomotic repair in which the ureter was transected and re-anastomosed primarily on one side, and a graft was placed on the other side. Preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative variables and outcomes were assessed. A descriptive statistical analysis was performed. The onlay technique was used for 79%, while repair was carried out using the augmented anastomotic technique for the remaining cases. The reconstruction was reinforced with omentum in 95% of cases. The ureteral stricture location was proximal in 74% and mid in 26% of cases. A prior failed ureteral reconstruction was present in 53% of patients. The median stricture length was 4.0cm (range 2.0-8.0), operative time was 200min (range 136-397), estimated blood loss was 95ml (range 25-420), and length of stay was 2 d (range 1-15). There were no intraoperative complications. At median follow-up of 26 mo, the overall success rate was 90%. RBU is a feasible and effective technique for managing complex proximal and mid ureteral strictures. We studied robotic surgery for long ureteral strictures using grafts at three referral centers. Our results demonstrate that robotic buccal mucosa graft ureteroplasty is a feasible and effective technique for ureteral reconstruction.
Key Points
- Published in European urology in 2017.
- Indexed in PubMed as PMID 29239749.
- Mapped to Ureteral Reconstruction, Urethral Stricture & Urethroplasty, Robotic & Single-Port.
- Abstract available from PubMed and rendered as static text on this page.
Clinical Relevance
This work sits within Dr. Zhao's upper urinary tract reconstruction bibliography, including robotic ureteral repair, buccal mucosa graft ureteroplasty, reimplantation, pyeloplasty failure, and complex salvage reconstruction.