Salvage Surgery Rates for Pediatric Testicular Torsion: Comparison of the Pre- and Post-Quality Metric Eras.

PURPOSE: Pediatric testicular torsion is a urological emergency that requires timely intervention. In 2015, quality metrics for testicular torsion were implemented in the U.S. News & World Report "Best Children's Hospitals" rankings. Our study examines and compares testicular salvage surgery rates before and after the institution of national quality metrics from a multi-institutional database. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Pediatric Health Information System® was surveyed for all testicular torsion encounters using ICD (International Classification of Diseases), Ninth and Tenth Revisions coding from 52 hospitals between January 2010 and December 2019. Patients <1 year and ≥18 years of age were excluded. Only hospitals that reported outcomes before and after quality scoring were included. Testicular salvage surgery was defined as patients having undergone orchiopexy without concomitant orchiectomy. Age, race, distance from hospital, household income and insurance status were compared. RESULTS: A total of 890 patients (551 pre-metric and 339 post-metric) from 38 hospitals were included. The testicular salvage surgery rate was 12.5% higher in the post-metric cohort (70.9% versus 58.4%). Hospital compliance to testicular torsion quality metrics increased from 62% in 2015 to 98% in 2019. Mean age, race, distance to hospital, household income, insurance status and use of ultrasound were not statistically different between pre- and post-metric cohorts. CONCLUSIONS: Since the implementation of quality metrics, salvage surgery rates for testicular torsion increased to 70.9%, an improvement of 12.5% when compared to pre-metric outcomes. Patient factors were similar between the 2 groups. Multi-institutional prospective data are needed to validate this database study and evaluate overall testicular salvage rate.

Prospective evaluation of radiation dose with conventional fluoroscopic voiding cystourethrogram in pediatric patients.

INTRODUCTION: Skin entrance doses for voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG) have not been well characterized in the literature. Radiation exposure is measured as either dose area product (DAP) or air kerma, which estimates the effective dose, but does not accurately reflect absorbed dose at skin level. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to measure the skin entrance dose during fluoroscopic VCUG study in pediatric patients using single point dosimeters. STUDY DESIGN: Pediatric patients undergoing fluoroscopic VCUG were prospectively enrolled in our study. Landauer NanoDot™OSLD dosimeters were affixed to the skin overlying the sacrum to measure skin entrance dose. The fluoroscopic unit was set to the following parameters: low dose setting, skin-to-source distance of 54 cm, pulsed fluoroscopy at 3 frames/sec. RESULTS: Forty-four patients with a median age of 13.6 months (IQR 3.7-42.3) were enrolled. Median fluoroscopic time was 54 s (IQR 36-72). The median values absorbed dose by dosimeter and air kerma were 0.32 mGy (IQR 0.13-0.56, range 0.01-2.9) and 0.24 mGy (IQR 0.14-0.37), respectively. There was a positive correlation between the air kerma and absorbed dose (r = 0.69, p < 0.001) and fluoroscopy time and absorbed dose mGy (r = 0.60, p < 0.001). Absorbed dose was independent of age, body mass index and body surface area (p = 0.19, p = 0.57 and p = 0.16, respectively). Median whole body effective dose was 0.04 mSv (IQR 0.02-0.7). DISCUSSION: Overall, the absorbed dose received by the dosimeter remained low at a median of 0.32 mGy (range 0.01-2.91). These values are remarkably low and well within the accepted radiation exposure norms. Our radiologists follow a strict protocol to reduce the overall radiation emitted during a VCUG. These measures include setting the x-ray source at a low dose mode, collimating to the smallest area possible, and using pulsed fluoroscopy at 3 frames/sec. Limitations to this study include a slight variability in technique of VCUG between different technicians and providers, for which we cannot control. CONCLUSION: The radiation dose absorbed at the skin entrance and uniform whole body effective dose is low for a single VCUG when utilizing strict parameters. While newer non-ionizing technologies continue to emerge, our data is encouraging and will serve as a valuable tool when educating parents regarding radiation doses associated with a VCUG.

A Rare Case of Uterine Torsion With Juvenile Granulosa Cell Tumor in the Pediatric Patient.

Juvenile granulosa cell tumors of the ovary are rare sex cord-stromal ovarian tumors that are typically diagnosed during the first 2 decades of life. Most patients present with precocious puberty in the early stages of disease. We present a rare case of asymptomatic uterine torsion from a 15-cm juvenile granulosa cell tumors in a 5-year-old girl with elevated inhibin B, breast development, vaginal bleeding, and a palpable right-sided abdominal mass.

Early Bilateral Gonadoblastoma Associated With 45,X/46,XY Mosaicism: The Spectrum of Undifferentiated Gonadal Tissue and Gonadoblastoma in the First Months of Life.

45,X/46,XY mosaicism is one of a heterogenous group of congenital conditions known as differences (disorders) of sex development (DSD) that results in abnormal development of internal and external genitalia. Patients with DSD, particularly those with segments of the Y chromosome, are at increased risk for germ cell tumors including gonadoblastoma. Gonadoblastoma is a neoplasm comprised of a mixture of germ cells and elements resembling immature granulosa or Sertoli cells with or without Leydig cells or lutein-type cells in an ovarian type stroma. Gonadoblastoma has an increased prevalence of 15% to 40% in patients with 45,X/46,XY mosaicism and has been previously reported in patients as young as 5 months of age with that karyotype. Herein, we describe a 3-month-old child with 45,X/46,XY karyotype who was referred for the evaluation of asymmetric labia majora. Additional evaluation revealed left streak gonad and right dysplastic/dysgenetic testis. Both gonads contained foci of cells typical for gonadoblastoma as well as undifferentiated gonadal tissue, underscoring the potential for very early infantile gonadoblastoma and the spectrum of developmental anomalies associated with this karyotype.

Pediatric Testicular Hemangioma in a 10-Year-old: A Rare Entity That May Mimic Malignancy With Appraisal of the Literature.

Capillary hemangioma is a rare benign lesion in the testicle, particularly in pediatrics. It can mimic malignancy, leading to radical orchiectomy. We present a case of a testicular hemangioma in a child, and review the literature on testicular hemangiomas in this age group. A hypervascular testicular lesion without elevated tumor markers may warrant intraoperative biopsy to direct surgical management, which may include testis-sparing surgery if amenable.

Trends in Urologic Indications for Pediatric Renal Transplantation Over a 27-Year-period United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) Database.

OBJECTIVE: To elucidate the trends in urologic causes for renal transplant in the pediatric population using a national database. Little is known about the specific pediatric urologic conditions and resultant trends that precede renal transplantation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We reviewed the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) database for pediatric patients (<18 years old) who underwent renal transplantation from January 1988 to September 2015. We included those patients who received a renal transplant because of a urologic condition. RESULTS: Over 27 years, 7291 of 20,213 children (36%) underwent renal transplant secondary to a urologic condition. The 2 most common indications were hypoplasia/dysplasia/dysgenesis/agenesis (HDDA, 35.1%) and congenital obstructive uropathy (COU, 25.7%). The incidence of COU has increased from 18% to 30%, and the incidence of Wilms tumor has remained relatively consistent at 1.8% per year. In addition, 68% of all urologic renal transplants were performed in men compared with women. However, a higher percentage of women required transplantation because of Wilms tumor (3.1% vs 1.2%) and chronic pyelonephritis (17.6% vs 7.9%). Overall, the majority of patients (61.5%) who underwent renal transplantation were white, 18.8% Hispanic, and 15.3% black. CONCLUSION: HDDA and COU consistently have been the most common urologic indications for renal transplantation. Both are the leading causes in men, whereas HDDA and chronic pyelonephritis are predominant in women. Higher rate of renal transplant during the ages of 11-17 years is suggestive of increased burden on poorly functioning kidneys during times of adolescent growth.

Bowel preparation prior to reconstructive urologic surgery in pediatric myelomeningocele patients.

INTRODUCTION: Mechanical bowel preparation (MBP) has historically been the standard of care for patients undergoing reconstructive urologic surgery, including urinary diversion. To date, several studies have examined the role of mechanical bowel preparation in postoperative outcomes in pediatric patients undergoing augmentation cystoplasty. However, these patient populations have been heterogeneous in nature, with no studies dedicated to examining the role of MBP prior to reconstructive urologic surgery in pediatric patients with myelomenginoceles. Thus, our objective was to retrospectively assess perioperative measures and postoperative complications after reconstructive urologic surgery with or without mechanical bowel preparation in pediatric myelomeningocele patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 2008 to 2013, 80 patients with myelomeningocele underwent reconstructive urologic surgery involving the use of bowel. Seventy patients underwent a preoperative MBP while 10 did not. Perioperative measures and postoperative complications for these two cohorts were assessed. RESULTS: Eighty patients with myelomeningocele were identified; 70 patients underwent MBP while 10 patients did not. There were no statistically significant differences in demographics or operative time. There were no statistically significant differences in postoperative outcomes including time to first bowel movement and time to tolerating diet. There was also no significant difference in overall complication rate; patients with MBP had 31/70 (44%) complications while 2/10 (20%) of those without MBP had complications (p = 0.18). CONCLUSION: There was no significant difference in perioperative measures and postoperative complications for patients who did not receive a mechanical bowel preparation. Our findings indicate that it is safe and warranted to perform a prospective, randomized study to better characterize the risks and benefits of preoperative bowel preparation for patients with myelomeningocele.

Optimal Length of Follow-up for the Detection of Unsuccessful Pediatric Pyeloplasty: A Single-Center Experience.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the optimal length of follow-up for patients undergoing both open and minimally invasive pyeloplasties to ensure prompt detection of a recurrent obstruction. There are no standard guidelines on ideal follow-up and imaging post-pediatric pyeloplasty currently. METHODS: A retrospective chart review identified 264 patients (<18 years old) who underwent pyeloplasty for ureteropelvic junction obstruction between April 2002 and December 2014. Ultrasound was obtained every 3-4 months for the first year following pyeloplasty and thereafter at discretion of treating physician. Patient characteristics including symptoms and imaging were reviewed. RESULTS: Of the 264 patients, 72% were male with mean age of 51 months and follow-up of 26.8 months. Approximately 73% followed up to 3 years. Fourteen patients (5.3%) had a recurrent obstruction. Among the failures, 85% were diagnosed and underwent successful redo pyeloplasty within 3 years. Six infants had a recurrence (43% of all unsuccessful surgeries) and were diagnosed within 3 years of the initial surgery. Patients undergoing a minimally invasive procedure were less likely to be followed for more than 3 years compared to an open procedure (p < 0.001). Patients with severe hydronephrosis preoperatively were followed longer (p = 0.031). Age at surgery and type of surgical approach (p < 0.01) were significant predictors of length of follow-up in a negative binomial regression. CONCLUSION: Based on the results, a minimum of 3 years of follow-up is necessary to detect the majority of recurrent obstructions. Those patients who have higher than average lengths of follow-up tend to be younger and/or underwent an open surgical approach.

Congenital Aphallia: Novel Use of Acellular Dermal Matrix During Scrotal Flap Phalloplasty.

Phallic reconstruction is an important part of management for congenital aphallia. Scrotal flap phalloplasty has been described in pediatric patients to create the appearance of a nonfunctioning phallus. We describe a modified scrotal flap technique with the addition of an acellular dermal matrix patch (AlloDerm) to provide additional girth and support to the phallus. The postoperative cosmetic outcome has been satisfactory and there is no documented complication over a 12-month follow-up. AlloDerm dermal matrix can be a safe addition to phallic reconstruction and its overall application needs to be further studied.

Percutaneous Stone Surgery in Spina Bifida Patients--Are Stone-Free Rates Worth the Risk?

PURPOSE: Percutaneous stone surgery can be challenging in spina bifida (SB) patients due to their body habitus and spinal cord anomalies. A safe surgical approach may necessitate acceptance of lower stone-free (SF) rates. We seek to determine if anatomic complexity, as measured by spinal cord curvature and torso length, is associated with SF rates after percutaneous stone surgery in SB patients. We hypothesize that increasing anatomic complexity is associated with lower SF rates following percutaneous stone surgery. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed all cases of percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) and percutaneous cystolitholapaxy (PC) in patients with SB at our institution. We calculated individual Cobb angles for scoliosis and kyphosis and measured torso lengths to serve as surrogates of anatomic complexity. These parameters were used to test for associations between anatomic complexity and SF rates. RESULTS: A total of 32 procedures were analyzed (15 PCNL, 17 PC). SF rates for PCNL and PC were 60% and 71%, respectively. For both the PCNL and PC cohorts, there was no difference in age, preoperative stone burden, body mass index, operative time, or estimate blood loss between patients deemed SF or not stone free (NSF) after a single procedure. In the PCNL cohort, worsening scoliosis (higher Cobb angle) and lower SF rates trended toward statistical significance (43° vs. 24°, p = 0.058). In the PC cohort, increasing torso length was associated with lower SF rates (34.1 vs. 28.5 cm, p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Overall SF rates were modest in this population. Cobb angle measurements of scoliosis and kyphosis as well as torso length are novel tools for objectively defining anatomic complexity in the SB population and may help predict success following stone surgery.

Clinical and Radiological Risk Factors Predicting Open Surgical Repair in Pediatric Patients With Dilating Vesicoureteral Reflux.

OBJECTIVE: To study the individual patient-related risk factors in those undergoing open corrective vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) surgery in a contemporary series. The management of VUR remains controversial, and the indications for open surgery has evolved from that of surgeon and patient preference to criteria involving breakthrough urinary tract infections and grade of VUR. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective study was performed, and patients undergoing open surgical repair for dilating VUR (grade III-V) from 2005 to 2014 were included. Characteristics of patients were determined to identify predictors of operative intervention. Statistical analysis including Fisher's exact test and multivariable logistic regression of patient demographics and independent predictors of surgery was performed using the Stata (College Station, TX) version 13 software package. RESULTS: Of the 469 patients, 351 (74.8%) underwent open intravesical ureteroneocystostomy and 118 (25.2%) were managed conservatively. Based on the multivariable analysis, age, female sex, number of febrile urinary tract infections, maximum grade of reflux, prenatal hydronephrosis, ureteral dilatation, and persistence of VUR on voiding phase of voiding cystourethrogram were strong predictors of eventual surgery. Female sex (odds ratio [OR]: 19.8), ureteral dilatation (OR: 6.2), and persistence of VUR on voiding phase (OR: 5.03) were among the strongest predictors of surgical intervention. CONCLUSION: Female sex and higher grades of VUR were the strongest predictors of eventual surgical intervention. VCUG characteristics of ureteral dilatation >7 mm and persistence of VUR on the voiding phase were also very strong predictors of eventual surgical intervention.

Surgical Complications Following Early Genitourinary Reconstructive Surgery for Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia-Interim Analysis at 6 Years.

OBJECTIVE: To review the intermediate- to long-term surgical complications following feminizing reconstructive surgery for patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) at a single tertiary center. Genitourinary reconstructive surgery is pivotal to favorable cosmetic and functional outcomes for patients with CAH. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective review identifying 26 patients from April 2003 to April 2015 who underwent genitourinary reconstructive surgeries. Demographic data and surgical postoperative complications (per Unplanned Postoperative Morbidity in Children [UPMC] and Clavien-Dindo classification) were evaluated. RESULTS: The average age at the time primary surgery was done at our institute was 17 ± 20 (5-87) months; the average length of follow-up was 72.56 ± 36.95 (4.5-142) months. The average length of the common urogenital sinus was 4.5 ± 1.9 (2.5-6.4) cm, and 15 out of 22 (68%) patients had high confluence. A total of 7 complications were observed in 7 (27%) patients, 3 patients had Clavien grade I and UPMC 0 (dysuria, stitch dehiscence, wound separation), and 2 had Clavien grade II and UPMC 1 (urinary tract infection). Two (7.6%) patients required revision surgery, and both of them had Clavien grade IIIB. One patient had UPMC score 5 (suprapubic tube insertion for urinary retention secondary to cicatrization of the surgical site). CONCLUSION: Genitourinary reconstructive surgery for CAH patients is well tolerated and is successful in toddlers, with low (7.6%) complication rate. Revision surgery has successful outcome both functionally and cosmetically. In toilet-trained girls, urinary continence can be achieved in all patients following feminizing genitoplasty.

Predicting Spontaneous Stone Passage in Prepubertal Children: A Single Institution Cohort.

INTRODUCTION: No method currently exists for predicting which young child with a renal or ureteral stone will require surgery as opposed to pass the stone. Our goals were to analyze practice patterns at a major pediatric center and to identify factors that predicted spontaneous stone passage. METHOD: A retrospective review of all prepubertal patients (≤ 11 years) presenting to our institution from January 2005 to July 2014 with symptomatic nephrolithiasis was performed. Demographic data and stone details were reviewed, including anatomic location, size, and outcomes. Spontaneous stone passage was determined by parental report and/or stone absence on imaging obtained within 6 months after initial diagnosis. RESULTS: A total of 119 eligible patients were identified, with an average age of 88.7 months (4-143). Forty eight (40.3%) patients spontaneously passed their stone and the remaining 59.7% required endoscopic intervention. Overall, 79.0% had symptomatic presentation (flank pain, hematuria) and 39.5% of patients were obstructing stones. Symptomatic presentation was more common with ureteral (86.5%) than with renal (66.7%) stones, but was not associated with increased passage of stones in general (p-value 0.1765). Of the 48 patients who spontaneously passed stones, 11 (24.4%) were renal stones compared with 37 (50.0%) ureteral stones. The average size of spontaneously passed stones was 3.5 mm (2-8) for renal and 3.4 mm (1-7) for ureteral stones. Based on logistic regression, the single most important predictor of stone passage was stone size (p-value <0.001). The odds of passage were 3.1 times higher for ureteral stones compared with renal stones (p = 0.0070) when not controlling for size. CONCLUSION: In prepubertal patients, ureteral stones with an average size of 3.5 mm or less are more likely to pass spontaneously. Based on this information, watchful waiting is a reasonable option in clinically stable nonseptic patients with renal/ureteral stones of this size.

Outcomes of Ureteroscopic Management of Pediatric Urolithiasis: A Comparative Analysis of Prepubertal and Adolescent Patients.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the outcomes of ureteroscopic intervention in terms of both the stone-free rate and complications in both prepubertal and adolescent patients. Although safety of pediatric ureteroscopic intervention is well established, a comparative outcome of prepubertal and adolescent patients is lacking. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Pediatric patients who underwent ureteroscopic treatment of a renal or ureteral stone at our institution from July 2005 to August 2014 were retrospectively identified. Patients were classified by age either as prepubertal (≤11 years) or adolescent (>11 years) for purposes of comparison. Demographic and intraoperative variables as well as 30-day postoperative complication rates were compared between groups. Data were analyzed using χ(2) and Fisher's exact tests as appropriate. RESULTS: A total of 104 patients were identified, of whom 64 (62%) were prepubertal and 40 (38%) were adolescent. Ureteroscopic failure occurred in a minority of patients (5% vs 4.7%, P > .9). Complication rates including ureteral perforation (0% vs 1.6%, P > .9), postoperative urinary tract infection (2.5% vs 4.7%, P > .9), hematuria with clot passage (0% vs 7.8%, P = .15), and persistent flank pain (15% vs 17%, P = .85) were not significantly different between adolescent and prepubertal patients, respectively. CONCLUSION: In spite of small size and small body habitus, the ureteroscopic management of pediatric urolithiasis can be performed successfully in both the prepubertal and adolescent patients with acceptable and equivalent morbidity as well as successful clearance of stone.

The Role of Prophylactic Antibiotics After Minimally Invasive Pyeloplasty With Ureteral Stent Placement in Children.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether children discharged with prophylactic antibiotics following laparoscopic pyeloplasty with indwelling ureteral stent have a decrease risk of postoperative urinary tract infections (UTIs) compared to those discharged without antibiotics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of all minimally invasive pyeloplasties performed at our institution from January 2009 to March 2015 was conducted. Patients were discharged home with or without daily prophylactic-dose antibiotics continued until 3 days after ureteral stent removal per surgeon preference. The primary outcome was incidence of culture-positive UTI. Secondary outcomes included bacteriuria at time of stent removal and adverse events associated with extended antibiotic therapy. RESULTS: Of 163 pyeloplasties (106 robotic and 57 pure laparoscopic) performed over the study period, 126 patients were discharged on prophylactic antibiotics whereas 37 patients were discharged without prophylaxis. Groups were different with respect to median age (7.1 vs 12.0 years, P = .03) and median duration of ureteral stent (35 days vs 28 days, P = .02). The incidence of culture-positive UTI between the time of discharge and stent removal was comparably low between groups; 2/126 (1.6%) in the prophylaxis group and 1/37 (2.7%) in the group not on prophylaxis. At time of stent removal, perioperative urine culture was positive in 2/20 (10.0 %) patients who received prophylactic antibiotics and in 1/25 (4.0%) patients who did not (P = .54). CONCLUSION: The administration of extended prophylactic antibiotics showed no significant impact on the rate of UTI following minimally invasive pyeloplasty.

Multi-institutional review of outcomes of robot-assisted laparoscopic extravesical ureteral reimplantation.

PURPOSE: We performed a multi-institutional assessment of the outcomes and complications of robot-assisted laparoscopic extravesical ureteral reimplantation for vesicoureteral reflux in children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the records of patients who underwent robot-assisted laparoscopic extravesical ureteral reimplantation as done by 1 of 5 surgeons at Children's Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, or Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, from 2010 to 2013. Procedure failure was defined as persistent vesicoureteral reflux on postoperative voiding cystourethrogram or radionuclide cystogram and/or the need for reoperation. Multivariate logistic regression was done to identify possible risk factors for failure using STATA®, version 11. RESULTS: A total of 61 patients (93 ureters) with a mean age of 6.7 years (range 0.6 to 18.0) underwent a procedure, of which 32 (52%) were bilateral. Ten patients (16%) underwent previous subureteral injection for vesicoureteral reflux. At a mean followup of 11.7 months the procedure was successful in 44 of 61 patients (72%). There were 14 cases of persistent vesicoureteral reflux (23%), 6 complications (10%) and 9 reoperations (11%). Multivariate logistic regression identified no factor that increased the risk of failure (p = 0.737). CONCLUSIONS: Compared to the literature we found a notably lower success rate for robot-assisted laparoscopic extravesical ureteral reimplantation in the hands of 5 fellowship trained, robotically experienced pediatric urologists. More than 10% of patients required at least 1 reoperation for persistent vesicoureteral reflux or a surgical complication. Our experience suggests a higher complication rate and a lower success rate for robot-assisted laparoscopic ureteral reimplantation compared to the gold standard of open reimplantation.

Hydronephrosis in pediatric kidney transplant: clinical relevance to graft outcome.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate our pediatric renal transplant patient population at the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh to better understand the clinical significance of hydronephrosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed records of patients who had received a renal transplant in 1998-2008. Exclusion criteria included multi-organ transplants and allograft failure within 3-months. We determined the incidence of hydronephrosis and compared serum creatinine, incidence of pyelonephritis, rejection and vesicoureteral reflux between the hydronephrotic and non-hydronephrotic cohorts. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Student's t-test and Pearson Chi-Square test. RESULTS: 51 patients (35 male, 68.6%) were identified. The mean age at time of transplant was 8.7 ± 5.9 years and the mean follow-up period was 45.2 ± 45.4 months. Common causes of renal failure included posterior urethral valves, renal dysplasia, reflux and prune belly syndrome. Twenty-five (49%) patients developed hydronephrosis. This was associated with worsening renal function (p = 0.008). Hydronephrosis was also associated with pyelonephritis (p = 0.03) and male gender (p = 0.004). Age at transplant may be a predictor of pyelonephritis: median age of 10 patients with pyelonephritis was 4.6 years (range 0.6-19.9 years). Hydronephrotic cohort had increased rate of reflux and rejection; as not all patients underwent voiding cystourethrogram and/or allograft biopsy, this result was not significant. CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric renal graft hydronephrosis was correlated with worsening renal function and increased incidence of pyelonephritis. More aggressive preoperative and postoperative urological testing and management should help preserve renal function.

Laparoscopic pyeloplasty for ureteropelvic junction obstruction in infants.

PURPOSE: Laparoscopic pyeloplasty and open pyeloplasty have comparable efficacy for ureteropelvic junction obstruction in pediatric patients. The role of laparoscopic pyeloplasty in infants is less well defined. We present our updated experience with laparoscopic pyeloplasty in children younger than 1 year. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the records of all 29 infants treated with transperitoneal laparoscopic pyeloplasty for symptomatic and/or radiographic ureteropelvic junction obstruction from May 2005 to February 2012. Patients were followed with renal ultrasound at regular intervals. Treatment failure was defined as the inability to complete the intended procedure, persistent radiographic evidence of obstruction and/or the need for definitive adjunctive procedures. RESULTS: Transperitoneal laparoscopic pyeloplasty was performed in 29 infants 2 to 11 months old (mean age 6.0 months) weighing 4.1 to 10.9 kg (mean ± SD 7.9 ± 1.6). Followup was available in all except 5 patients (median 13.9 months, IQR 7.7-23.8). Mean operative time was 245 ± 44 minutes. All cases were completed laparoscopically. Three postoperative complications were reported, including ileus, superficial wound infection and pyelonephritis. Two patients had persistent symptomatic and/or radiographic evidence of obstruction, and required reoperative pyeloplasty. The overall success rate was 92%. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic pyeloplasty in infants remains a technically challenging procedure limited to select centers. Our early experience revealed a success rate comparable to that of other treatment modalities with minimal morbidity.

Cost analysis of pediatric robot-assisted and laparoscopic pyeloplasty.

PURPOSE: An increasing percentage of pediatric pyeloplasties are being performed with assistance of the da Vinci® Surgical System. A review of the recent literature shows decreased operative times and length of hospital stays when robotic procedures are performed, although there are few published data comparing the cost of pediatric robotic and pure laparoscopic pyeloplasty. We reviewed a representative sample of pyeloplasties performed at our institution and performed a cost analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively identified 23 robot-assisted and 23 laparoscopic pyeloplasties performed at our institution between August 2008 and April 2012. Total cost was calculated from direct and indirect costs provided by our billing department. RESULTS: Robotic procedures were shorter than pure laparoscopic procedures (200 vs 265 minutes, p <0.001) but there was no significant difference in the total cost of the 2 procedures ($15,337 vs $16,067, p <0.46). When compared to laparoscopic cases, subgroup analysis demonstrated decreased operative times (140 vs 265 minutes, p <0.00001) and total cost ($11,949 vs $16,067, p <0.0001) in robotic cases where stents were placed in an antegrade fashion. CONCLUSIONS: With widespread use the cost of robotic instrumentation may decrease, and experience may further shorten operative times. However, it currently remains to be seen whether robotic technology will become a cost-effective replacement for pure laparoscopy in the management of pediatric ureteropelvic junction obstruction.