Research Article

Laparoscopic Lich Gregoir Extravesical Ureteric Reimplantation for Correction of High Grade Vesicoureteric Reflux- Short, Intermediate and Long Term Outcomes with Literature Review

Krishanu Das*, George P Abraham, Krishnamohan Ramaswami, Datson George P, Jisha J Abraham, Thomas Thachill and Thampan OS
Department of Urology, Lakeshore Hospital, India


*Corresponding author: Krishanu Das, Department of urology, Lakeshore Hospital, NH 47 Bye Pass Maradu Nettoor P.O. 682040, Kochi, India


Published: 01 May, 2017
Cite this article as: Das K, Abraham GP, Ramaswami K, Datson George P, Abraham JJ, Thachill T, Thampan OS. Laparoscopic Lich Gregoir Extravesical Ureteric Reimplantation for Correction of High Grade Vesicoureteric Reflux- Short, Intermediate and Long Term Outcomes with Literature Review. Clin Surg. 2017; 2: 1456.

Abstract

Objective: To assess the efficacy of laparoscopic Lich-Gregoir antireflux surgery in management of Grade III-V vesicoureteric reflux.
Methods: Patients with bothersome urinary infection and high grade vesicoureteric reflux (grades III-V) were recruited for the procedure. All patients were worked up in detail. Pre-procedure cystoscopy was performed with placement of ureteral stent and a perurethral catheter. Ureteric reimplantation was performed following Lich-Gregoir principle. Voiding cystogram and ultrasound were evaluated 6 monthly.
Results: From August 2009 till June 2012, 36 patients (68 renal units — 30 bilateral, 4 unilateral and 2 common sheath reimplantations) underwent laparoscopic antireflux surgery. Preoperative reflux grades were 32 Grade III, 24 Grade IV and Grade V in 12. Mean operation duration was 103.33 min for unilateral and 154.09 min for bilateral antireflux procedure. A difference in operation duration between male and female children was perceived (115 min vs. 165 min, p< 0.001). No major intraoperative events were encountered. Postoperatively 3 patients complained of vague abdominal pain. Mean hospital stay was 2.5 days. 3 patients complained of voiding dysfunction after catheter removal. 30 children (60 renal units) attended 3 year follow-up. Complete resolution of VUR was noted in 30 Grade III (100%), 21 Grade IV (95.45%) and 9 Grade V (75%) units. Overall reflux resolution rate was 93.75%.
Conclusion: Laparoscopic Lich-Gregoir type of antireflux procedure offers satisfactory outcome in management of high grade VUR. Children with Grade V VUR may benefit from ureteral tapering prior to antireflux construction.
Keywords: Vesico; Ureteric reflux; Laparoscopy; Antireflux surgery


Introduction

Vesicoureteric reflux (VUR) is a perplexing urological problem that may culminate in nephropathy, scarring and ultimately renal failure [1-3]. Definitive treatment of VUR is based on grades of severity and clinical presentation. Although Grades I and II VUR occasionally resolve spontaneously on long term antibiotic prophylaxis and expectant management [2], high grade reflux often requires early intervention to prevent upper tract deterioration [4,5]. Despite the success of endoscopic treatment [6,7], surgical treatment remains the gold standard treatment option for managing high grade reflux. Several surgical techniques are available for correction of reflux [8].
Conventionally, these exercises are conducted through open approach. Laparoscopic approach for antireflux construction is evolving. In the limited citations published till date, this approach has been appraised to achieve the same feat as incisional techniques with palpable benefits and fewer shortcomings [9]. We bring forth our experience with this operative exercise in our patient cohort.


Materials and Methods

A retrospective analysis was conducted including patients who were treated by our team between August 2009 and June 2012. Study was approved by institutional review board. Children were recruited from both emergency department and outpatient clinics. All children attending with pyrexia and a documented urinary infection were evaluated in detail, including complete blood exam, renal function, urinalysis, ultrasound scan (US) to check for renal anatomy and scars, and a voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG) to check for VUR. Children with VUR underwent further assessment to rule out coexisting malformations or secondary pathologies contributing to reflux. Symptomatic children with low grade reflux (Grade I and II) were offered Deflux injections. Patients with high grade reflux and renal scarring in US underwent dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA) renogram to assess renal function. Symptomatic patients with recurrent UTI (≥ 1 episode of documented urinary infection despite being on antibiotic prophylaxis), Grade III-V VUR, with or without renal scars and with salvageable renal unit were offered antireflux surgery and those consenting to laparoscopic approach comprised the study cohort. All procedures were performed under general anaesthesia with single dose of parenteral antibiotic at induction. First, urethrocystoscopy was performed to define trigonal anatomy and location of the ureteric orifice, the appearance of the orifice, the submucous length of the intravesical ureter and rule out any secondary pathology contributory to reflux. Unilateral or bilateral double J ureteral stents (Rusch; Germany, 3F in children ≤ 5 years age and 4.8F in children >5 years) were inserted depending on laterality of reflux. Per urethral cathere was inserted and children were positioned 45 degree Trendelenberg with shoulder support and padding of pressure points. In unilateral procedures the pathological side was tilted upwards by 20 degrees. Four ports were employed, a 7 mm camera port, and three, 3 mm working ports (two ports at left and right iliac fossa along midclavicular line for dissection and suturing and one at midline suprapubic level for retraction) (Figure 1). Pneumoperitoneum was created using Hassan technique. A transperitoneal approach was employed in all cases. After familiarising with the anatomy, the pathological ureter was identified at the level of pelvic brim and dissected till the level of ureterovesical junction using blunt and sharp dissection. The presence of stent facilitated the identification of the ureter especially when grossly dilated. During ureteral mobilisation use of electrocautery was restricted strictly and 4 mm to 5 mm of periureteral adventitia was preserved. Subsequently, urinary bladder was filled through the preinserted per-urethral catheter with 100 mm to 200 mm of normal saline depending on age and bladder capacity of the child (0.91% weight/volume, 300 mM/L, Fresenius Kabi, Germany).
The peritoneum overlying the bladder was incised followed by seromuscular cystotomy. The most important structure encountered in the vicinity during this step was the vas deferens in males and uterine artery and adnexal structures in females. These structures were meticlously mobilised and preserved. Thereafter, extramucosal detrusor trough was created by suburothelial undermining (Figure 2). A wide trough of 4 cm to 5 cm length was created using hook electrocautery. Any accidental breach of the bladder mucosa during this step was sutured. At the level of ureterovesical junction, the myotomy was extended on either side of the ureteric insertion in an inverted Y fashion. The ureter was thereafter directed in the trough and detrusor approximation undertaken with 3-0 polyglactin sutures (Vicryl; Ethicon, Johnson and Johnson) on a 30 mm 3/8 circle needle. We usually employed three equidistant sutures taking care not to overangulate or overcompress the ureter (Figure 3). Adequate tension was maintained during detrusorraphy. In duplex moiety with lower moiety ureterocele, the ureterocele was incised during cystoscopy; ureteral stents were inserted in each moiety, followed by laparoscopic common sheath reimplantation. In all patients an abdomanl drain was placed after completion of antireflux and drain was kept without suction. Post surgery oral intake was resumed when children were comfortable. Catheter was removed next postoperative day. Children were sent home once fully ambulatory with adequate oral intake and satisfactory voiding. Paracetamol as analgesic was advised only on demand. The ureteral stents were removed after six weeks. All patients were reassessed three monthly with complete clinical evaluation, renal parameters, urinalysis and ultrasound scan. Estimated GFR (EGFR) was calculated using Schwartz formula [10]. Preoperative and postoperative EGFR values were compared. A repeat VCUG was interpreted at six months following the procedure. Complete resolution of reflux in follow-up VCUG and improvement in pelvicaliceal dilatation in US was remarked as treatment success. Downgrading or persistence of same grade of VUR was inferred as unsatisfactory outcome and symptomatic patients were rendered alternative corrective options. Those with successful reflux resolution were re-evaluated at three years and five years. Statistical analysis was conducted using descriptive statistics, T test and Wilcoxon signedrank test. A p value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.


Table 1

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Table 1
Statistical analysis of demographic profile, blood parameters and operative profile.

Figure 1

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Figure 1
Port positions in steep Trendelenberg position.

Figure 2

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Figure 2
Sketch of surgical principle. B: Urinary Bladder; DT: Detrusor Trough; RU: Reimplanted Ureter; UVJ: Ureterovesical Junction

Figure 3

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Figure 3
Intraoperative appearance after completion of reimplantation

Results

Thirtysix children (30 bilateral, four unilateral and two common sheath reimplantations, total 68 renal units) with primary VUR underwent laparoscopic reflux correction. The severity of reflux was Grade III VUR in 32 units, Grade IV VUR in 24 units and Grade V VUR in 12 units. Three children underwent antireflux correction in solitary functioning renal unit. The contralateral unit was dysplastic (n=2) or nonfunctioning secondary to high grade reflux (n=1) and laparoscopic nephrouereterctomy was performed for the contralateral unit. All other children had bilateral functioning renal units. Table 1 projects the statistical analysis of our patient cohort. Mean age was 6.1 years. Twenty one children were male and 15 were females. The average number of UTIs experienced prior to study recruitment were 4.2 and all children had at least one febrile UTI. All children were on antibiotics. No children in this cohort received endoscopic injections prior to laparoscopic surgery. Preoperative renal function was normal in all children. Mean surgical duration was 103.3 min for unilateral and 154.1 min for bilateral antireflux procedure. The operation duration was longer in female children (165 min in female and 115 min in males, p< 0.001). In two patients, minimal breach of the bladder mucosa occurred during suburothelial undermining of the detrusor. However, antireflux surgery could be completed using laparoscopy approach. In the post-operative period, three children complained of vague abdominal pain that settled with anticholinergic medications. All patients had per urethral catheter removed on first postoperative day. No children experienced any urine leak postoperatively. Three children experienced transient voiding dysfunction after catheter removal that was managed by short period of reinsertion of per urethral catheter (one week) and anticholinergics. One child presented with persistent hydronephrosis after stent removal and was managed by reinsertion of ureteric stent. Three months later this stent was removed after resolution of the hydronephrosis. All children complied with the first year follow-up schedule. Symptomatic improvement was appraised in all but two children. Both continued to experience recurrent urinary infections post surgery. No children reported decline in renal function. Improvement was observed in the mean follow-up serum creatinine, albeit not statistically significant (preoperative 0.94 mg/ dl vs. postoperative 0.76 mg/dl, p=1.012). There was significant improvement in the mean follow-up EGFR values (preoperative 65.3 ml/min/1.73 m2 vs. postoperative 74.87 ml/min/1.73 m2, p< 0.001). At one year, complete resolution of VUR was noted in 32 children (60 renal units, 30 units with Grade III VUR (100%), 21 units with Grade IV VUR (95.5%) and 9 units with Grade V VUR (75%). Overall reflux resolution rate was 93.8%. Amongst the four units with persistent VUR, downgrading of VUR was noted in all. One unit showed Grade I VUR and three units Grade II VUR. All these children had bilateral VUR at presentation and underwent simultaneous bilateral reconstructions. Two children were stable clinically during followups and were observed. In other two children with Grade II reflux and urinary tract infection, symptoms resolved after Deflux injection. Thirty children (29 bilateral and 2 unilateral VUR, 60 renal units, 26 Grade III, 22 Grade IV and 12 Grade V) attended three year follow-up. Twenty one children (40 units, 25 children with Grade III, 12 children with Grade IV and three children with Grade V VUR) attended five year follow-up. Clinical and radiological parameters were stable in all of them with no further episodes of UTI and no recurrence of VUR.


Discussion

VUR is a common problem in childhood, affecting about 1% of all children and up to 25% to 40% of those presenting with acute pyelonephritis [11]. Secondary VUR mandates treatment of the contributory pathology, whereas primary reflux requires correction of the dysfunctional vesicoureteric junction. Endoscopic injections are often utilized for managing low grade reflux that is non-respondent to observation (Grade I and II). But their efficacy in managing Grade III-V reflux is not yet convincing [4-6]. Surgical management remains the most preferred approach for addressing these cases. An armamentarium of surgical techniques has been in vogue for reflux correction, both through transvesical and extravesical routes [12-15]. The basic principles of all these techniques is adequate mobilisation of the ureter preserving its vascularity, creating a trough in the bladder wall that is wide enough to accommodate an optimal length of the lower ureter and buttressing the implanted ureter with generous detrusor muscle support. Conventionally, these surgeries have been performed with open approach. With increasing expertise in laparoscopic surgery, many of these techniques have been successfully replicated laparoscopically [16,17]. Although the preference lies with the treating surgeon’s expertise and experience, extravesical approaches are reportedly associated with lower morbidity and shorter hospital stay than intravesical techniques [18]. This is attributed to minimal handling of the ureter and preservation of bladder mucosal integrity. Laparoscopy additionally benefits the surgeon due to magnification achieved and surgical exercise can be conducted with precision. In our cohort, all procedures could be successfully accomplished via laparoscopic approach. The morbidity profile associated with laparoscopy is appealing. The morbidity profile experienced in our group was minimal and confer to the published standards [9,16,17]. Laparoscopic approach for correction of reflux can be technically challenging [9,19,20]. The operator needs to be versed with advanced laparoscopic techniques, have a thorough knowledge of pelvic anatomy, the skill to operate in the limited pelvic space in children along with expertise in intracorporeal suturing. Adhering to the principles of reconstruction, we created a wide detrusor trough in all cases, thereby maintaining the ureteral diameter to the detrusor trough length ratio. Additionally, full thickness of detrusor muscle was preserved to enable buttressing with adequate tension on the implanted ureter. These can be considerably demanding to achieve in grossly dilated ureters in cases of Grade V reflux. Buttressing with excessive tension has the potential to jeopardize antegrade ureteric peristalsis and pelvicaliceal drainage whereas suboptimal tension runs the risk of persistent reflux along the tunneled ureter. Another point of caution with the extravesical approach is the possibility of iatrogenic injury to the vas deferens in males or adnexal structures in females during mobilization of the lower ureter near the vesicoureteric junction. These structures are encountered in the immediate vicinity of the vesicoureteric junction and were meticulously preserved in all. In our series, the procedure was easier to perform in males. The vas deferens is less bulkier than the adnexal structures and uterine vessels in female children, and was easier to mobilize and preserve. This could explain the observed difference in the operative duration between male and female children. A success rate of 90% to 99% has quoted for open extravesical repairs [21-24]. Proponents of laparoscopic approach also claim good results in these cases [9]. We observed an overall success rate of 94% in our cohort. Scrutinizing our results, we found that children with delayed presentation to surgery from onset of symptoms (mean interval of 48 months) and high grade reflux with grossly dilated ureters at presentation (Grade V VUR) had suboptimal outcome. Additionally, the failed cases belonged to the early part of the series. It is probable that lack of sufficient experience with the technique in the initial part of the series and suboptimal tension in the suture line may be contributory. We strongly believe there is a learning curve in this technique. Also when faced with grossly dilated ureters, tapering the ureteral circumference by tailoring prior to reimplantation may be worthy. A concern with extravesical approaches, especially in bilateral pathologies is postoperative voiding inefficiency [21-25]. We encountered this problem in the initial 3 cases which was managed with short period of recatheterisation. A nerve sparing approach has also been described to overcome this problem [26]. However we did not practice such technique in any of our patients. Some authors have highlighted the importance of an inverted Y shaped detrusor myotomy for creation of detrusor trough [9,27]. We also support this concept and consider it crucial for success. The bifurcating limbs of the Y should be wide enough to allow placement of the ureter in the trough without causing overangulation and thereby preventing subsequent impairment of upper tract drainage. Laparoscopic extravesical antireflux is considered less technically exacting than other laparoscopic transvesical techniques with comparable results [26]. We did not practice transvesical approach in any of our patients and hence unable to comment on the relative merits of our technique over the transvesical approach. A significant proportion of children in our study benefitted from laparoscopic antireflux procedure. This approach should certainly be utilized widely for addressing high grade reflux.


Conclusion

Laparoscopic extravesical ureteric reimplantation is an effective surgical option for management of high grade vesicoureteric reflux, with minimal morbidity and comparable outcome to other surgical approaches for this pathology. Children with Grade V reflux may benefit from tapering of the ureter prior to antireflux creation.


Acknowledgements

Mr. Sooraj Rajsekharan for the statistics used in the study.


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