Citation
Bourillon A, McGuire BB, Pinar U, Naughton A, Tabourin T, Parra J, Vaessen C, Borojeni S, Freton L, Richard C, Zhao L, Bensalah K, Peyronnet B. Robot-assisted Buccal Mucosa Graft Ureteroplasty for Ureteral Stricture: A European Multicenter Case Series. European urology open science. 2025
Abstract
Robot-assisted buccal mucosa graft (BMG) ureteroplasty was introduced a decade ago and has since gained wide adoption within the urology community. However, available data on the outcomes of robot-assisted BMG ureteroplasty remain limited, and no large European series has been published to date. This study aims to report the outcomes of a multicenter European experience with robot-assisted BMG ureteroplasty (RBMGU) for the management of ureteral strictures. Medical records of all the patients who underwent RBMGU for ureteral strictures at four European centers between 2018 and 2024 were reviewed retrospectively. The primary outcome was the absence of stricture recurrence at the last follow-up, defined as the lack of need for urinary drainage or repeat surgery, or the presence of symptomatic hydronephrosis. A total of 39 patients were included. The median stricture length was 3 cm, with 36% involving the pelvic ureter. A period of ureteral rest was implemented in 85% of patients. Early postoperative complications occurred in eight patients (21%), with only one major event (3%). After a median follow-up of 12 mo, the overall success rate was 87%. No predictive factors for recurrence were identified. RBMGU for ureteral stricture appears to be a feasible and reproducible technique across multiple surgeons and institutions. The outcomes demonstrate a promising trend, with preliminary results indicating low morbidity and recurrence rates. Further studies with larger cohorts are warranted to identify the risk factors for recurrence and to better define the optimal indications for this procedure. In this report, we present the outcomes of robotic ureteral stricture reconstruction using buccal mucosa grafts across four European centers. The results are encouraging, demonstrating low rates of stricture recurrence and postoperative complications. We emphasize the key advantages of robotic-assisted reconstruction and the broad spectrum of ureteral strictures that may benefit from this approach.
Key Points
- Published in European urology open science in 2025.
- Indexed in PubMed as PMID 41536954.
- 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.