Feasibility and Safety of Robotic Distal Ureterectomy

Abstract

Abstract Introduction: The benign ureteral stricture disease and the urothelial carcinoma of the distal ureter can be managed by distal ureterectomy and ureteral reimplantation. The da Vinci robotic surgical system has been increasingly used in the management of a variety of urologic diseases. To assess the application of robotic surgery in the management of the distal ureter, we evaluated the feasibility and safety of robotic distal ureterectomy (RDU). We highlight our surgical technique with a surgical video. Materials and Methods: Nineteen patients with benign or malignant disease involving the ureter were enrolled between June 2004 and March 2012. Preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative parameters were recorded and analyzed. The modified Clavien system was used to grade postoperative complications. Results: Ten patients underwent RDU for urothelial carcinoma of the distal ureter, and the other nine for benign stricture disease or iatrogenic injury. The median age at surgery was 65 years (inter...