Laparoscopic management of multiple ureteral polyps in children

Purpose: We describe laparoscopic management of multiple ureteral polyps and our objective initial experience in children.

Materials and methods: We used laparoscopic polypectomy and pyeloureterostomy to treat 13 patients (15 ureters) diagnosed with hydronephrosis caused by multiple ureteral polyps between August 2006 and November 2010. Mean patient age was 11.4 years. The polyps were left sided in 9 patients, right sided in 2 and bilateral in 2. Hydronephrosis was mild in 9 cases, moderate in 4 and severe in 2. Postoperative followup consisted of ultrasound and excretory urography.

Results: A total of 12 patients were successfully treated with laparoscopy, while 1 patient with bilateral polyps required conversion to open surgery. Mean polyp length was 4.5 cm. Mean operative time in the unilateral cases was 121 minutes. The bilateral polyps were operated on simultaneously, with a surgical time of 185 minutes. Mean hospital stay was 3.5 days. Followup ranged from 6 to 26 months. In 1 patient obstruction of the temporary Double-J® stent developed 1 week postoperatively due to the deposition of urinary salts. No recurrent polyps were seen on followup B-mode ultrasound or excretory urography.

Conclusions: Laparoscopic management of multiple ureteral polyps in children can be considered a safe and effective minimally invasive surgical option. However, further studies with larger cohorts are needed to confirm this finding.