Laparoscopic lower urinary tract reconstruction

In the past decade laparoscopy has been successfully utilized for both the obliterative and reconstructive management of urologic disease. We have seen not only an advance in the technology available to perform these procedures, but also an effort on the part of laparoscopic urologists to refine their techniques to allow them to perform more complicated procedures. In the lower urinary tract, the development of reconstructive procedures has been slow. While early interest in laparoscopy prompted several pioneers to perform the initial reconstructive procedures, the difficulties associated with these procedures at that time largely precluded their widespread application or adoption. Recently, improvements in the skills of laparoscopic urologists and the advent of instruments to facilitate suturing (e.g. EndoStitch semi-automatic suturing device, Lapra-Ty clips to replace intracorporeal knotting, and advances in staple and clip technology) have facilitated a renewed interest in laparoscopic reconstructive surgery of the lower urinary tract. At present, almost all types of urologic open reconstructive procedures have been accomplished laparoscopically: urinary diversion (e.g. ureteroileal loop urinary diversion and continent diversion), bladder reconstruction (e.g. ureterovesicostomy, bladder augmentation, bladder diverticulectomy, partial cystectomy), ureteral reimplantation, and, most recently, urethrovesical anastomosis following radical prostatectomy. This article will review the development of these procedures.