Comparison of surgical outcomes and cosmetic results between standard and mini laparoscopic pyeloplasty in children younger than 1 year of age

ObjectiveTo evaluate safety, efficacy, and cosmetic results after mini laparoscopic (mL) pyeloplasty and standard (sL) pyeloplasty in children younger than 1 year of age with ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO).Materials and methodsFrom August 2009 to March 2011, 20 sL pyeloplasties were performed in pediatric patients younger than 1 year of age; afterwards, 20 patients younger than 1 year of age underwent mini laparoscopic (mL) pyeloplasty from June 2011 to August 2012. The patients were followed by urine culture and ultrasonography at 3 and 6 months after surgery. Cosmetic appearance was assessed in all patients in both groups group 3 months after surgery using the Patient Scar Assessment Questionnaire.ResultsPeri and postoperative results revealed that operative time (total and anastomosis of ureteropelvic junction), hospital stay, and overall complication rate were significantly lower in mL than in sL. Persistent hydronephrosis in follow-up imaging and recurrence of obstruction was not observed in any cases. Mean appearance score and consciousness score showed significantly better results in the mL group.ConclusionWe believe that mL pyeloplasty in infant cases with UPJO is more cosmetically pleasing and less invasive than sL pyeloplasty and has similar functional outcomes.