Laparoscopic Heminephrectomy in Children (A Review)

Abstract

The laparoscopic technique for the treatment of duplex kidney anomaly became popular thanks to the efforts of G. Jordan and B. Winslow, who in 1993 successfully performed the world’s first laparoscopic heminephrectomy in a child. This operation has made its way into the world of surgical methods that have great potential for improving postoperative patient recovery and cosmetics, asserting the progress of pediatric endourology. Since the first report of laparoscopic heminephrectomy, a minimally invasive approach has gained popularity, and in some advanced surgical centers it has completely replaced open surgery in the treatment of urinary tract abnormalities. To date, there are several studies that demonstrate the safety and feasibility of laparoscopic heminephrectomy in children; nevertheless, the use of such an approach in the pediatric population is limited. Other endosurgical techniques for treating duplex kidney anomaly include retroperitoneoscopy, single-port laparoscopy and robotic surgery. The choice of endosurgical heminephrectomy technology is determined in accordance with the patient’s age, possession of technical capabilities and personal experience of the surgeon. In the literature, there is still a relative lack of evidence of the safety and effectiveness of endosurgical operations designed to remove the affected kidney segment in children. The purpose of the scientific review is to analyze the results of laparoscopic heminephrectomy in children and present its strengths and weaknesses, based on data that exist today in modern scientific literature.