Modified Antegrade Stenting in Laparoscopic Pediatric Pyeloplasty; an Optimized Approach

Whether the retrograde or antegrade approach of stenting is superior in laparoscopic pyeloplasty remains a great controversy. Each technique has its advantages and disadvantages. We tried in this study to optimize the way of stenting, taking the advantages of both approaches and avoiding their disadvantages.

Methods: Between March 2013 and August 2021, 75 patients less than 15 years of age candidate for laparoscopic pyeloplasty were included in the study. All cases were done by the same surgeon in our institute. At first, a retrograde study was done, and an open-tip ureteric catheter was inserted just below the pelviureteric junction. Putting the ureteric catheter just below the pelviureteric junction makes the whole procedure easier. After proper dissection, the anterior wall of the pelvis is incised and continuing the ureteric spatulation on its lateral aspect. Before the complete division of the ureter, the first stitch is taken between the angle of ureteric spatulation and the lower angle of the pelvis. After completing the posterior wall anastomosis, a guide wire is introduced through the ureteric catheter, grasped gently, and pulled out through the uppermost port, and the ureteric catheter is then removed. With the proximal end of the guide wire passing through the upper port and its distal end coming outside the urethra, the DJ is passed in an antegrade manner while pulling on the urethral catheter balloon to close the bladder neck.