Pyeloplasty

Mr. Sewell offers robotic-assisted pyeloplasty to treat pelvi-ureteric junction (PUJ, also sometimes called UPJ) obstruction, which is a condition where there is a blockage at the junction between the renal pelvis (part of the kidney) and the ureter (the tube that carries urine from the kidney to the bladder). Robotic-assisted pyeloplasty is a minimally invasive approach that utilizes advanced robotic technology to perform the surgery with enhanced precision and dexterity.

Robotic-assisted pyeloplasty is performed under general anesthesia, which means you will be asleep and pain-free during the surgery. Several small incisions, typically less than 2cm in length, are made in the abdomen to allow for the insertion of robotic arms and surgical instruments.

Your surgeon controls the robotic arms from a console in the operating room. The robotic arms hold the surgical instruments and a high-definition camera, which provide a magnified, three-dimensional view of the surgical site.

The surgeon removes the narrowed or blocked segment of the ureter at the PUJ and reconstructs it using sutures to ensure a wider and more open passage for urine flow. Stones can be removed from the kidney at the same time. A stent (a soft plastic tube that allows urine to easily flow from the kidney to the bladder) will be placed into the reconstructed ureter, for removal 4-6 weeks later.

Robotic-assisted pyeloplasty may require a hospital stay of one to two days, depending on your specific situation and the extent of the procedure.

You may experience some discomfort or pain after the surgery, which can be managed with pain medication as prescribed by your healthcare provider. You will need to avoid heavy lifting and vigorous exercise for 4 weeks after the procedure. You will usually be safe to drive around 2 weeks postoperatively.

Benefits of robotic-assisted pyeloplasty include reduced blood loss, shorter hospital stay, faster recovery, and potentially less post-operative pain compared to traditional open surgery. However, as with any surgical procedure, there are risks involved, such as infection, bleeding, injury to surrounding structures, leak from the repair, and recurrence of the narrowing in the ureter.