Open Access

RESIDENT’S CORNER

Robotic-assisted laparoscopic pyelolithotomy in a horseshoe kidney

Stephanie Aron, Anthony Galvez, Ryan Nasseri, Susana Berrios, Tyler Sheetz

Department of Urology, UC San Diego Health, San Diego, California, USA
Address correspondence to Dr. Stephanie Aron, Department of Urology, UC San Diego Health, 9444 Medical Center Drive #7897, San Diego, CA 92037-7897 USA

Canadian Journal of Urology 2024, 31(6), 12077-12080.

Abstract

Nephrolithiasis is one of the most common indications for surgery in patients with a horseshoe kidney. Robotic assisted surgery has become a staple in urologic practice, yet its application in stone management is largely undefined. We present a patient with a horseshoe kidney, who underwent a robotic-assisted laparoscopic pyelolithotomy (RPL) to treat a 3 cm stone burden. This procedure allowed for safe access that could not be obtained with percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) and stone removal without fragmentation, which would have been challenging with traditional laparoscopy. We advocate for the use of robotic-assisted laparoscopic pyelolithotomy in cases of aberrant anatomy complicating a heavy stone burden.

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