Recovery of bowel function after transperitoneal or retroperitoneal laparoscopic pyeloplasty. A multi-center study

Aim To document the recovery of bowel function (BF) in children after transperitoneal (TP) or retroperitoneal (RP) laparoscopic pyeloplasty. Methods Data were obtained retrospectively from four centers between 2008 and 2019 for TP (n = 51) and RP (n = 58). Each surgeon chose which technique to perform. Results Subject demographics were not significantly different. Differences in operative times were not significant (RP: 241 min versus TP: 225 min). Mean duration/requirement for postoperative epidural/intravenous analgesia were not significantly different (TP: 1.4 days versus RP: 1.3 days) and (TP: 66.7% versus RP: 67.2%), respectively. Postoperative nasogastric (NG) intubation was more common in RP (TP: 19.6% versus RP: 44.8%; p < .05). NG aspiration (TP: 0.15 mL/kg/hr versus RP: 0.16 mL/kg/hr), nausea (TP: 31.4% versus RP: 17.2%), and vomiting (TP: 19.6% versus RP: 15.5%) were not significantly different. There were no perioperative complications (including ileus). Abdominal distention was problematic in one case per group (TP: 2.0% versus RP: 1.7%). Times for oral liquid (TP: 0.69 day versus RP: 0.83 day), solid food (TP: 0.88 day versus RP 1.07 days), and the first bowel movement (TP: 2.86 days versus RP: 2.79 days), were not significantly different. Conclusions BF recovery would appear to be consistent, independent of technique.