Robotic pyeloplasty.

In addition to the classic open surgery, a variety of minimally invasive therapeutic options have been developed for the treatment of ureteropelvic junction obstruction, including an endoscopic antegrade or retrograde ureteropelvic junction obstruction visually controlled incision or radioscopically controlled Acucise (Applied Medical, Laguna Hills, CA), which does not share the high success rate that results from open-surgical dismembered pyeloplasty. Laparoscopic pyeloplasty, which duplicates the open technique and differs only by the mode of access, has proven to have positive results when performed by experts, but remains a demanding technique that requires a long learning curve. Providing a three-dimensional vision, an unprecedented control of the endocorporeal instruments, and an ergonomic surgeon's position, robots may allow urologists with limited laparoscopic experience to rapidly master the endocorporeal management of ureteropelvic junction obstruction. They likely will propel minimally invasive urology forward in the next several years.