Surgical Techniques in Urology
Laparoendoscopic Single-site Transvesical
Ureteroneocystostomy for Vesicoureteral
Reflux in an Adult: A One-year Follow-up
Marek Roslan, Marcin M. Markuszewski, Jakub Kla ˛ cz, and Kazimierz Krajka
INTRODUCTION Various minimally invasive techniques have been developed to decrease morbidity related to
laparoscopic port placement and to improve cosmetic results while maintaining the same standards
and efficacy of surgical care. One such approach is laparoendoscopic single-site surgery. We describe
our initial clinical experience of using this technique for transvesical ureteral reimplantation.
TECHNICAL
CONSIDERATIONS
The procedure was performed transvesically (percutaneous intraluminal approach) with a single-
port device (3-channel) via a 1.5-cm incision made 2 cm above the pubic symphysis. A standard
10-mm laparoscope was used with either straight or articulating instruments. The ureter was
dissected, shortened, passed through the submucosal tunnel, and fixed in place with a running
absorbable V-Loc suture. The operative time was 250 minutes. No significant bleeding or other
complications were observed.
CONCLUSION Although further development of the instruments and skills is needed laparoendoscopic single-
site surgery transvesical reimplantation of the ureter appeared to be feasible and safe. Neverthe-
less, further experience and observations are necessary. UROLOGY 80: 719 –723, 2012. © 2012
Elsevier Inc.
O
ver the past decade, laparoscopy has been dem-
onstrated to be a valid approach in a variety of
surgical procedures, resulting in lower perioper-
ative morbidity, shorter hospital stays, and consequent
improvement in the quality of life of the patient. Re-
cently, efforts have been made to further decrease the
morbidity related to laparoscopic port placement and to
improve cosmetic results without sacrificing standards of
surgical care. Minilaparoscopic approaches have been
developed, including laparoendoscopic single-site surgery
(LESS) and natural orifice translumenal endoscopic sur-
gery (NOTES).
1,2
Compared with conventional laparos-
copy, LESS reduces the number of ports needed and
could therefore reduce postoperative morbidity, unfavor-
able cosmesis, and prolonged hospital stays. There are
numerous applications of LESS for urologic indications,
including either reconstructive or ablative procedures.
3,4
Simple prostatectomies as well as diverticulectomies have
been performed transvesically via the single-port placed
intraperitoneally through an intraumbilical incision.
3,5
A
few reports describe the LESS technique performed per-
cutaneously, directly through the bladder wall for foreign
body removal, bladder cuff excision, or adenomec-
tomy.
6-8
Despite the fact that such minimally invasive
treatment has evolved over recent years and was subse-
quently introduced for most urologic indications, only
several series of laparoscopic approaches for treating vesi-
coureteral reflux (VUR), either in adults or in children,
have been published.
9,10
We were able to find only one
report on LESS extravesical ureteral reimplantation for
VUR.
11
Here, we describe our experience with transvesical
ureteral reimplantation using the TriPort device (Olym-
pus Winter & IBE GMBH, Hamburg, Germany) inserted
directly into the bladder. To the best of our knowledge,
this is the first report of a transvesical LESS approach for
VUR repair in an adult.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
Medical History
A 39-year-old woman with recurrent flank abdominal pain,
chronic urinary tract infection, urinary frequency, and nocturia
was referred to our department in May 2010. The patient had
experienced these symptoms for several years and had repeat-
edly refused operative treatment. The patient took this position
despite being informed of the likely long-term consequences.
Numerous courses of antibiotics were administered previously
without success.
Ultrasonography, intravenous pyelography, and voiding cys-
tourethrography (VCUG) revealed grade V bilateral VUR (Fig.
1A–C). In addition, microbiological examinations indicated
Financial Disclosure: The authors declare that they have no relevant financial
interests.
From the Department of Urology, Medical University of Gdan ´sk, Gdan ´sk, Poland
Reprint requests: Marek Roslan, M.D., Ph.D., Department of Urology, Medical
University of Gdan ´sk, ul. Kliniczna 1A, 80-402 Gdan ´sk, Poland. E-mail: mroslan@
esculap.pl
Submitted: March 4, 2012, accepted (with revisions): June 13, 2012
© 2012 Elsevier Inc. 0090-4295/12/$36.00 719
All Rights Reserved http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.urology.2012.06.028