Laparoscopic Nephropexy for Symptomatic Nephroptosis: Initial Case Report

Laparoscopic nephropexy was performed in a 25-year-old woman with intractable pain and a palpable pelvic mass associated with right nephroptosis for more than 1 year. Evaluation by a supine and an erect intravenous urogram (IVU) revealed right renal descent of three vertebral bodies with mild hydronephrosis. Laparoscopic transperitoneal nephropexy was performed in a 2 and a half hour procedure. The patient stayed in the hospital 2 days postoperatively and returned to full activities 3 weeks later. At 2 months postoperatively, she is asymptomatic. An upright IVU 2 months postoperatively revealed renal descent of only one vertebral body and no hydronephrosis. This is the first report to our knowledge of a successful laparoscopic nephropexy.