Laparoscopic versus open upper pole heminephroureterectomy for the treatment of duplex kidneys in children.

AIM: To evaluate the safety and feasibility of laparoscopic upper pole heminephroureterectomy (HNU) in pediatric patients with duplex kidneys in comparison with open surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From 2007 to 2011, 27 patients underwent HNU. A dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) isotope scan revealed hypofunctioning of ipsilateral moieties in all cases. The patients were divided randomly into laparoscopic HNU (LHNU) and open surgery HNU (OHNU) groups. LHNU was performed by the transperitoneal approach in 10 girls and 5 boys with a mean age of 33 months (range, 9-108 months). All procedures were performed using three or four ports. Open surgery was performed in 10 girls and 2 boys with a mean age of 29 months (range, 7-174 months) by the retroperitoneal approach in all cases. Follow-up included ultrasound and DMSA. RESULTS: Mean operative time in the LHNU and OHNU groups was 148 minutes (range, 100-220 minutes; 95% confidence interval [CI] 129-167 minutes) and 124 minutes (range, 100-150 minutes; 95% CI 115-133 minutes), respectively. In the LHNU and OHNU groups, mean analgesic requirement was 2.8 days (range, 2-4 days; 95% CI 2.4-3.2 days) and 3.7 days (range, 3-5 days; 95% CI 3.3-4.1 days), and mean hospital stay was 4.0 days (range, 2-8 days; 95% CI 3.2-4.8 days) and 5.1 days (range, 3-8 days; 95% CI 4.3-5.9 days), respectively. No intraoperative or major postoperative complications occurred. No conversion to open surgery was necessary in the LHNU group. Statistical analysis showed no statistical significant difference (P>.05) in the operating time between groups, whereas differences in the mean hospital stay (P=.048) and analgesic requirements (P=.005) were significant. The function of the remnant pole was preserved in all patients. Follow-up ultrasound showed asymptomatic cystic structures in 1 patient. CONCLUSIONS: The laparoscopic upper pole HNU is a safe and feasible procedure, even in infants. It is associated with minimal morbidity, and the operative time is acceptable and not significantly longer in comparison with the open approach. LHNU reduces analgesic requirements and hospital stay. In our opinion it should be the preferred option for HNU in children.