ENDOUROLOGY & LAPAROSCOPY

Laparoscopic ureterolysis and omental wrapping
Simone G, Leonardo C, Papalia R, Guaglianone S, Gallucci M
Department of Urology, Regina Elena Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
Urology. 2008; 72: 853-8

• Objectives: To describe our laparoscopic technique of ureterolysis and omental wrapping using the LigaSure device for the treatment of idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis.
• Methods: Four bilateral laparoscopic ureterolyses (LUs) and two unilateral LUs were performed in 6 male patients (mean age 47 years). Of the 6 patients, 4 underwent LU without having undergone medical therapy before surgery and 2 underwent LU after medical therapy failure. All had had ureteral stents placed before surgery. The ureters were completely freed from the fibrotic tissue using an Overholt laparoscopic forceps and 10-mm LigaSure atlas. An omental wrap was passed behind the colonic flexure, placed around the ureter, and fixed to the psoas muscle.
• Results: The mean operating time was 80 minutes (range 75 and 85) for the unilateral LUs and 200 minutes (range 180-225) for the bilateral procedures. The mean blood loss was 75 mL (range 50 and 100) during LUs and 150 mL (range 80-220) during bilateral LUs. The mean hospital stay was 3.33 days (range 2-5). All indwelling ureteral stents were removed at 4 weeks postoperatively. At a mean follow-up of 37.5 months (range 23-59), all patients were free of symptom and all renal units were unobstructed.
• Conclusions: In our experience of LUs and omental wrapping, the reproduction of each step of open surgery seems to offer excellent midterm outcomes. The use of the LigaSure simplified the laparoscopic procedure and made it feasible and safe. We believe that the minimally invasive nature and high effectiveness of LU suggest consideration of this procedure as first-line treatment of idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis.
  
  
• Editorial Comment
  The management of retroperitoneal idiopathic fibrosis has evolved from complex open surgery to medical therapy with reasonable success rates and the more conservative management for unfit patients for surgery or patients that did not want to undergo through a long recovery with open surgery may simply have ureteral stents placed and changed them sporadically.
  As in our experience, and the authors the Laparoscopic approach appears to be as effective as open surgery but medical therapy may offer a success rate of 50%-80%, with probably a lower effectiveness in patients with severe disease. Longer follow-up is necessary but this is another small series that laparoscopic approach may be as effective as open surgery.

Dr. Fernando J. Kim
Chief of Urology, Denver Health Med Ctr
Assistant Professor, Univ Colorado Health Sci Ctr
Denver, Colorado, USA
E-mail: fernando.kim@uchsc.edu