Robotic-Assisted Laparoscopic Heminephrectomy

Abstract

Ehrlich et al.1 first reported the use of laparoscopic nephrectomy in children, and Jordon and Winslow 2 reported the first laparoscopic partial nephrectomy (LPN) in a 14-year-old girl with bilateral duplicated systems. Since these reports, there has been a boom in the utilization of laparoscopy in pediatric urology, where it has been aggressively pursued as an alternative to traditional open surgery given its association with decreased postoperative pain, length of stay, and improved cosmesis. The recent advent of robotic-assisted laparoscopic surgery (RALS) allows for most heminephrectomy to be performed without needing to fully mobilize the kidney, a distinct contrast to open surgery. This helps minimize trauma and vascular compromise to the remnant pole 3–5.