Laparoscopic vesical diverticulectomy.
OBJECTIVE
We report our initial experience with 13 cases of laparoscopic vesical diverticulectomy done via an extravesical approach between November 2002 and October 2004.


METHODS
All patients were male, with a mean age of 53 years and a mean body mass index of 26.2 kg/m2. A transperitoneal approach was preferred. The diverticulum was of the primary type in three patients and of the secondary type resulting from benign prostatic hyperplasia in seven patients and a longstanding urethral stricture in three patients.


RESULTS
The mean operative time was 265 minutes with a mean blood loss of <100 mL and a mean postoperative hemoglobin decline of 1.1 g/dL. The urethral catheter was removed on day 7 postoperatively in the patients with a primary diverticulum, whereas it was left for 11 to 14 days in patients with secondary bladder diverticula. Postoperative complications occurred in only one patient with a primary diverticulum, taking the form of extravasation from the suture line in the control gravity-fill cystogram that was done routinely prior to urethral-catheter removal. Leakage resolved with urethral catheterization for 2 more weeks. The postoperative stay was 3 to 4 days.


CONCLUSIONS
Laparoscopic diverticulectomy is technically feasible and safe and may represent an alternative to the standard open procedure.
Abdel-Hakim
Amr M
AM
Department of Urology, Cairo University Hospitals, Cairo, Egypt.
El-Feel
Ahmed
A
Abouel-Fettouh
Hazem
H
Saad
Ismail
I
D002404:Catheterization; D004240:Diverticulum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D001745:Urinary Bladder Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*