RETROPERITONEOSCOPIC TREATMENT OF URETEROPELVIC JUNCTION OBSTRUCTION

Purpose: To demonstrate feasibility and safely of retroperitoneoscopic treatment of ureteropelvic junction obstruction, Materials and method s: II patients with symptomatic ureteropelvic junction obstruction wer e selected for retroperitoneoscopic pyeloplasty. Operative rime ranged between 2 h 30 min and 4 h (mean 3 h 10 min), in 5 cases we had to co nvert to open surgery and an open pyeloplasty was performed through a minimal (6 cm) lombotomic incision, Results: Follow-up IVPs were perfo rmed in all patients approximately 2-3 weeks after stent removal. In a ll patients, a reduction in the grade of hydronephrosis was observed. Significant improvement mas noticed in 9 patients; in 2 patients a mod erate improvement was observed. Conclusions: Our experience with retro peritoneoscopic treatment of ureteropelvic junction obstruction demons trates that also with this approach it is possible to perform reconstr uctive procedures, with minimal complications. Technical refinements w ill progressively reduce the conversion rate to open surgery, even if done through minilaparotomy.