PURPOSE: The treatment of symptomatic stone filled caliceal diverticula has evolved from open surgery to less invasive procedures, such as extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy, percutaneous techniques, retrograde ureteroscopy and laparoscopy, but it remains controversial. We describe a laparoscopic technique for the management of symptomatic caliceal diverticula. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An extraperitoneal laparoscopic procedure was done in 3 women with symptomatic caliceal diverticula. Watertight obliteration of the diverticular cavity was achieved without suturing, using gelatin resorcinol formaldehyde glue. RESULTS: Average operating time was 80 minutes, including ureteral catheterization. All patients became stone-free, there were no complications and average hospital stay was 6.6 days. At 6-month followup the patients remained asymptomatic with no diverticula or stone recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Retroperitoneoscopy allows safe access to caliceal diverticula regardless of location, and permits complete removal of stone and fulguration of the diverticular neck. Gelatin resorcinol formaldehyde glue minimizes the risk of urinoma formation, and provides a simple, quick and safe alternative for nephrotomy closure.
PURPOSE: The treatment of symptomatic stone filled caliceal diverticula has evolved from open surgery to less invasive procedures, such as extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy, percutaneous techniques, retrograde ureteroscopy and laparoscopy, but it remains controversial. We describe a laparoscopic technique for the management of symptomatic caliceal diverticula. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An extraperitoneal laparoscopic procedure was done in 3 women with symptomatic caliceal diverticula. Watertight obliteration of the diverticular cavity was achieved without suturing, using gelatin resorcinolformaldehyde glue. RESULTS: Average operating time was 80 minutes, including ureteral catheterization. All patients became stone-free, there were no complications and average hospital stay was 6.6 days. At 6-month followup the patients remained asymptomatic with no diverticula or stone recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Retroperitoneoscopy allows safe access to caliceal diverticula regardless of location, and permits complete removal of stone and fulguration of the diverticular neck. Gelatin resorcinolformaldehyde glue minimizes the risk of urinoma formation, and provides a simple, quick and safe alternative for nephrotomy closure.