Laparoscopic Repair of Vesicoureteral Reflux Utilizing the Lich-Gregoir Technique in the Pig Model

To date, laparoscopic urological surgery has largely been limited to diagnostic or ablative procedures. Herein we report our experience with laparoscopic reconstructive surgery to perform an extravesical ureteral reimplantation. Seven anesthetized pigs with iatrogenic ureteral reflux underwent a laparoscopic extravesical ureteral reimplantation. The newly created ureteral tunnel varied from 2 to 4 cm. In 3 pigs, the tunnel was created with tacking staples, while in the other 4 pigs, the tunnel was created with intracorporeal suturing techniques using a 3-zero polyglyconate running suture. The procedure required an average of 132 minutes. There was one anesthetic death. There were no urinary tract infections. At 3 to 8 weeks after reimplantation, the cystograms were repeated on 5 pigs. One of 2 stapled reimplant pigs still had reflux; 1 of 3 sewn reimplant pigs had reflux. At 6 months following the reimplantation, only 1 pig had residual grade I reflux and this was a sutured reimplantation. None of the stapled reimplantations exhibited any residual reflux on the surgical side; however, in 1 animal a submucosal staple was noted at the time of harvest.