Robot-assisted Tapered Ureteral Reimplantation for Congenital Megaureter

OBJECTIVE To discuss the clinical implications of primary obstructed congenital megaureter in the adult and illustrate a minimally-invasive approach for surgical intervention. METHODS We present the case of a 51-year-old man with a longstanding history of symptomatic congenital megaureter, illustrating an approach for robot-assisted tapered ureteral reimplantation. Ureteral dissection, tapering, and nonrefluxing ureteroneocystostomy were all completed using a robot-assisted laparoscopic technique. RESULTS The total operative time was 262 minutes, with an estimated blood loss of 150 mL. The patient's hospital course was uneventful, with discharge on postoperative day 4 without a Foley catheter or drain. A diuretic renal scan was performed at 5 months that showed good preservation of renal function with rapid clearance of tracer on the reconstructed side. The patient was pain free at his last follow-up visit without any symptoms. CONCLUSIONS We have demonstrated a technique for robot-assisted tapered nonrefluxing ureteral reimplantation for congenital megaureter. Robotic assistance provided a safe and effective approach for complex ureteral reconstruction while minimizing morbidity. UROLOGY 77: 742-745, 2011. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc.