Minimally Invasive Urologic Surgery

Connecticut Children’s uses endoscopy, laparoscopic surgery, and state-of-the-art robotic surgery to treat a range of common and complex urologic conditions affecting children. Minimally invasive surgical techniques and technology allow many procedures to be performed with patients experiencing less pain, smaller scars and a faster recovery time.

Connecticut Children’s was the first hospital in Connecticut to perform robotic surgery on a child. The da Vinci Xi System, the most advanced robotic surgical technology available, gives our pediatric urology surgeons the distinct advantage of 3D imagery allowing for greater precision and range of motion inside a pediatric patient as compared to laparoscopic surgery.

  • Pyeloplasty: ureteropelvic junction obstruction surgery
  • Ureteral Reconstruction: including ureteroureterostomy
  • Ureteral Reimplantation: vesicoureteral reflux surgery
  • Deflux Implant Procedure: vesicoureteral reflux injection
  • Kidney surgery: including nephrectomy and partial nephrectomy
  • Urachal Cyst Excision
  • Urologic Reconstruction
  • Robotic surgery: This cutting-edge technique allows pediatric surgeons to perform operations with sophisticated mechanical equipment. When compared to standard laparoscopy, robotic surgery has advantages such as 3D visualization, tremor reduction, and increased range of motion within the patient. The use of robotics offer increased accuracy, smaller incisions and fewer potential complications.
  • Laparoscopy: This technique allows surgery to be performed inside the abdomen or pelvic region through one or more very small incisions. The incision for a laparoscopic procedure is usually made through the belly button and can be as small as three millimeters. Laparoscopy may be used to evaluate pelvic genital organs, move non-palpable undescended testes, and remove or repair kidneys.
  • Endoscopy: These surgical techniques do not require any surgical incisions, entering through the urinary tract. Endoscopy is often used for vesicoureteral reflux and to treat kidney stones. As kidney stones have become more common in children, Connecticut Children’s has a wide range of pediatric endoscopy equipment that is used for stone retrieval. Other stone treatments available include extracorporal lithotripsy (ESWL) and percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL). For more information, see the Kidney Stone Program.

External Resources

  • Da Vinci Surgery  a website run by Intuitive Surgical Inc with information about the robotic surgery system.

Anne Dudley, MD

Director, Myelomeningocele Program | Co-Director – Clinic for Variations of Sex Development (GUPPE) | Co-Director, Posterior Urethral Valves Program (PUV)

Courtney Rowe, MD

Director, Reconstructive Urology Program | Co-Director, Connecticut Children’s Continence Program
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