title: Laparoscopic versus open pyeloplasty for ureteropelvic junction obstruction in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To comprehensively review the available evidences in the literature on the use of laparoscopic pyeloplasty (LP) vs open pyeloplasty (OP) for the repair of ureteropelvic junction (UPJ) obstruction in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Published studies until the end of October 2010 were searched from Medline, Embase, Web of Science, Ovid, and Cochrane databases. The literature search, quality assessment, and data extraction were independently performed by two reviewers. A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed by using Review Manager 4.2.8 software.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 1403 studies, one randomized controlled trial (RCT), two prospective comparative studies, and six retrospective observational studies were eligible for inclusion criteria, comprising 694 cases of LP and 7334 cases of OP. The OP has significantly reduced operative time (weighted mean difference [WMD] = 59.00; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 41.15 to 76.85; P < 0.00001) and higher stent placement rate (odds ratio [OR] = 5.97; 95% CI=3.17 to 11.26; P<0.00001) compared with LP, whereas the duration of hospital stay was shorter in the LP group (WMD = -0.40; 95% CI = -0.77 to -0.03; P=0.03). No difference was observed between LP and OP regarding complications (OR = 0.78; 95% CI = 0.46 to 1.34; P = 0.37) or success rate (OR = 1.76; 95% CI = 0.71 to 4.36; P = 0.22).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  LP is a minimally invasive, safe, and effective therapy method for UPJ obstruction in children, with shorter hospital stay and excellent outcomes, and without additional risk of postoperative complications. Because of the publishing bias, a series of RCTs are necessary to explore the efficiencies of LP in the management of UPJ obstruction in children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Union Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China.
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mei
authors.forename: Jiarui
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pu
authors.forename: Chunlei
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Huanyu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Liduan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Qiangsong
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Tong
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D010535:Laparoscopy; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D010388:Pelvis / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D017594:Publication Bias; D015607:Stents; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014513:Ureter / Q000601:surgery*; D014517:Ureteral Obstruction / Q000601:surgery*; D013520:Urologic Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*