Laparoendoscopic single site surgery in pediatric urology: does it require specialized tools?

Abstract

Purpose:To describe our experience utilizing Laparoendoscopic single site (LESS) surgery in pediatric urology.Materials and Methods:Retrospective chart review was performed on LESS urologic procedures from November 2009 through March 2013. A total of 44 patients underwent 54 procedures including: nephrectomy (23), orchiopexy (14), varicocelectomy (9), orchiectomy (2), urachal cyst excision (3), and antegrade continence enema (3) (ACE).Results:Median patient age was 6.9 years old. Estimated blood loss (EBL), ranged from less than 5cc to 47cc for a bilateral nephrectomy. Operative time varied from 56 mins for varicocelectomy to a median of 360 minutes for a bilateral nephroureterectomy. Incision length ranged between 2 and 2.5cm. In our initial experience we used a commercial port. However, as we progressed, we were able to perform the majority of our procedures via adjacent fascial punctures for instrumentation at the single incision site. One patient did require conversion to an open procedure as a result of bleeding. Three complications were noted (6.8%), with two Clavien Grade 3b complications. Two patients required additional procedures at 1-year follow-up.Conclusions:The use of LESS applies to many pediatric urologic procedures, ideally for ablative procedures or simple reconstructive efforts. The use of adjacent fascial puncture sites for instrumentation can obviate the need for a commercial port or multiple trocars.

Comparison of Single-Port and Multi-Port Laparoscopic Methods of Nephrectomy in Young Infants

“…Park [5] and R. Johnson [4] reported about a single-incision nephrectomy in children. This research series, which included 4 to 11 pediatric patients, demonstrated the possibility of removing a kidney through a single laparoscopic approach [6][7][8][9][10][11][12]. The lowest average weight and age of patients in the scientific reports was 10.6 kg and 12 months, respectively [10].…”

“…The desire of cosmetic perfection is a challenge for the surgeon, requiring him to utilize innovative manipulation techniques, instruments, and devices for their application in the peritoneal cavity. The number of publications about SIPES method for nephrectomy in young infants is considerably low and limited by the number of cases [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12].…”