title: Retroperitoneal laparoscopic dismembered pyeloplasty: experience with 50 cases.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report our techniques and experience with retroperitoneal laparoscopic dismembered pyeloplasty for ureteropelvic junction (UPJ) obstruction.
  
  
  METHODS
  From May 2000 to September 2004, 50 patients with UPJ obstruction underwent laparoscopic dismembered pyeloplasty. A three-port, balloon-dissecting, retroperitoneal approach was used. All anastomoses were completed with free-hand intracorporeal suture techniques. Follow-up studies were performed with intravenous urography and renal ultrasonography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All operations were completed laparoscopically, and no open conversions were required. The mean operating time was 81.6 minutes (range 55 to 180). The mean blood loss was 12 mL (range 5 to 50), and the mean postoperative hospitalization stay was 7.6 days (range 6 to 12). No intraoperative complications occurred. Aberrant artery vessel and primary stricture as the cause of UPJ obstruction was noted in 6 and 44 patients, respectively. Anastomotic leakage occurred in 2 patients, 1 of whom later underwent open surgery for recurrent UPJ obstruction. Radiographic assessment by intravenous urography showed good results in 49 patients at a mean follow-up of 22 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our experience with retroperitoneal laparoscopic dismembered pyeloplasty has demonstrated that this technique is an effective treatment for UPJ obstruction and can be accomplished reasonably quickly.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, People's Republic of China. xzhang@tjh.tjmu.edu.cn
authors.forename: Xu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Hong-Zhao
authors.initials: HZ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Shao-Gang
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Bin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Zhang-Qun
authors.initials: ZQ
authors.lastname: Ye
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007682:Kidney Pelvis / Q000601:surgery*; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D012187:Retroperitoneal Space; D014517:Ureteral Obstruction / Q000601:surgery*; D013520:Urologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods