A patient with a complete right ureteral triplication presented with recurrent pyelonephritis and flank pain that was refractory to medical management. Evaluation showed that the atrophic upper-most renal moiety had been chronically obstructed and was associated with a dilated ureter. Intraureteral and intravenous indocyanine green (ICG) were used as real-time contrast agents intraoperatively to facilitate right robotic partial nephroureterectomy of the diseased system. Intraureteral ICG was used to accurately distinguish the pathologic ureter and associated renal pelvis from its normal counterparts. Intravenous ICG was used to assess perfusion in the right kidney and delineate the margins of diseased renal parenchyma.
Administration, Topical ; Adult ; Coloring Agents/administration & dosage ; Female ; Humans ; Indocyanine Green/*administration & dosage ; Infusions, Intravenous ; Nephrectomy/*methods ; Pyelonephritis/surgery ; Robotic Surgical Procedures/*methods ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ureter/*abnormalities/radiography/*surgery

PURPOSE: To demonstrate our technical approach for robot-assisted ureteroneocystostomy (R-UNC) for benign and malignant distal ureteral pathologies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 2009 and January 2013, a total of 10 patients underwent R-UNC in the distal ureter by a single surgeon. Indications for R-UNC were as follows: idiopathic (3), fistula (2), iatrogenic (2), malignancy (2), and chronic vesicoureteral reflux (1). RESULTS: Tension-free anastomosis was attained in all 10 R-UNC procedures. A psoas hitch was performed in 6/10 cases (60%). Intravesical and extravesical reimplantations were completed in 5/10 (50%) and 5/10 cases (50%), respectively. A nonrefluxing ureter was constructed in 2/10 cases (20%). The patients' mean age was 52.9+/-16.6 years, their mean body mass index was 30.8+/-6.3 kg/m2, the mean operative time was 211.7+/-69.3 minutes, mean estimated blood loss was 102.5+/-110.8 mL, and mean length of stay was 2.8+/-2.3 days. There were no intraoperative complications. There was one Clavien-Dindo grade I and one Clavien-Dindo grade II postoperative complication. The mean postoperative follow-up duration was 28.5+/-15.5 months. Two patients had recurrence of ureteral strictures at 3 months postoperatively and were managed successfully with balloon dilation. CONCLUSIONS: Our technique for R-UNC demonstrates good perioperative outcomes. However, underlying periureteral inflammation and pelvic adhesions may predispose patients for stricture recurrence after R-UNC.
Adult ; Body Mass Index ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Fistula ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Intraoperative Complications ; Length of Stay ; Operative Time ; Postoperative Complications ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; Recurrence ; Replantation ; Surgical Procedures, Minimally Invasive ; Ureter ; Vesico-Ureteral Reflux