Lumbotomy approach for upper urological tract surgery in children--an analysis of 68 consecutive lumbotomies.

OBJECTIVES: To comprehensively analyse the results of upper urological tract surgery performed using a lumbotomy approach in the paediatric age group. METHODS: 68 consecutive patients underwent upper urological tract surgery during the last 5 years in our surgical unit. In all of these patients, a lumbotomy approach was used with a transverse skin incision. The hospital charts were reviewed for age, sex, diagnosis, type of surgery, intra-operative problems, duration of surgery, time to oral feeds, postoperative pain, length of hospitalisation and complications. RESULTS: Age range was 1 month to 12 years with a mean of 66 months. There were 47 boys and 16 girls. Surgeries performed were: pyeloplasty, pyelolithotomy, nephroureterectomy, ureterostomy and heminephrectomy. No intraoperative problems were encountered and the mean duration of surgery was 64.68 minutes. All patients resumed full oral feeds within 24 hours of surgery and postoperative pain was minimal. The mean duration of hospital stay was 6.16 days. No incision-related complications were seen. CONCLUSIONS: Lumbotomy incision is a safe, easy and effective approach for upper urological tract surgery in children.