Pediatric urologists at Cincinnati Children’s continue to refine applications for minimally invasive surgical techniques. One result is shorter hospital stays – and in some cases, no hospital stay whatsoever.

Robotic surgery

Since 2009, pediatric urologists at Cincinnati Children’s have been utilizing robotic surgery, a technique that has led to reduced postoperative pain and shorter hospital stays. "We use the robot for patients of all ages, from infants to teens,” says Paul Noh, MD, Director of the Division of Urology’s minimally invasive surgery program. “Even in the youngest patients, pain management needs have been minimized. Due to the benefits of robotic surgery, many patients can now be discharged from the recovery room without a hospital stay.

“Tubeless” surgery

In the last year, Noh began performing surgeries – such as a pyeloplasty for ureteropelvic junction obstruction and ureteral reimplantation for vesicoureteral reflux – without any drains or catheters. “We can be so precise that drains and catheters, which can cause problematic postoperative symptoms, can be avoided,” Noh says. “It is a safe and effective option that minimizes some problems related to the tubes, and in some cases eliminates the need for a second procedure to remove the tubes. And again, patients can often return home the same day.”

Noh and the other pediatric urologists performing robotic surgery at Cincinnati Children’s, Pramod Reddy, MD, and William Robert DeFoor, MD, are always looking for new ways to optimize their use of minimally invasive techniques. “The goal is to allow children to recover and return to their normal lives as quickly as possible,” Noh says. “Our experience and the data suggest that we can keep improving surgical outcomes to help us achieve that goal.”