A Comparative Study on the Efficacy of Laparoscopic Ureteroureterostomy versus Single Ureteral Bladder Reimplantation in Treating Pediatric Complete Renal Duplication

Objective: To explore the therapeutic value of laparoscopic ureteroureterostomy compared to single ureteral bladder reimplantation in the treatment of pediatric complete renal duplication. Methods: This retrospective study included 80 pediatric patients with complete renal duplication who underwent surgical treatment at the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University from January 2015 to December 2022. Patients were divided into two groups based on the surgical approach: the laparoscopic ureteroureterostomy group (LUU group, n=45) and the single ureteral bladder reimplantation group (UR group, n=35). The two groups were compared in terms of operative time, intraoperative blood loss, number of stent placements, postoperative length of hospital stay, changes in ante-posterior diameter (APD) of the affected upper kidney pelvis before and after surgery, changes in upper ureteral diameter (UD), and variations in renal function. Results: The LUU group demonstrated significantly shorter operative time (t=3.480, P=0.004), less intraoperative blood loss (t=-2.465, P=0.0196), and reduced postoperative length of stay (t=2.308, P=0.027) compared to the UR group. There was no significant difference between the two groups regarding the number of stent placements (x²=0.762, P=0.383). The UR group had four cases of long-term complications (two cases of anastomotic stricture, one case of vesicoureteral reflux, and one case of recurrent urinary tract infection), while the LUU group experienced one case of long-term complication (one case of anastomotic stricture), with no significant difference between groups (x²=1.493, P=0.222). Both groups showed significant improvement in preoperative and postoperative APD, UD, and affected side differential renal function (DRF). However, the differences in improvement values for upper kidney pelvis APD (ΔAPD; t=-0.032, P=0.962), differential renal function (ΔDRF; Z=1.895, P=0.073), and ureteral diameter (ΔUD; t=1.832, P=0.079) were not statistically significant. Conclusion: Both LUU and UR procedures are safe and effective in treating pediatric complete renal duplication. Compared to UR, LUU results in shorter operative time, less intraoperative blood loss, and reduced postoperative length of stay, while also causing less damage to the bladder.