title: Endourological treatment of ureteric injuries.
abstract: Over the last 8 years, 30 patients with ureteric injuries underwent endoscopic treatment. There were 14 failures, 5 because of blockage or diversion of the catheter in the fistulous gap and 9 because it was impossible to penetrate the stenotic tract. All failures occurred when treatment was attempted more than 3 weeks after the trauma. Sixteen lesions were successfully treated by placing a 6 to 10 F double pigtail catheter in the damaged ureter and leaving it for at least 3 months. Patients were followed up for 24 months. No recurrences were seen and good long-term results were achieved in all cases. In our experience, endourological treatment can be recommended for recent strictures < 2 cm in length, or for small fistulas in which continuity of the ureteric wall is still partially preserved. Despite the risk of failure, especially following late treatment of an injury, it should be considered a safe and effective procedure that is accepted well by the patients and that avoids the need for open surgery and its possible complications.
authors.affiliation: Division of Surgical Nephrology, University of Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cormio
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Battaglia
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Traficante
authors.forename: F P
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Selvaggi
mesh_terms: D017577:Cutaneous Fistula / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D004724:Endoscopy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000628:therapy*; D015607:Stents; D014513:Ureter / Q000293:injuries*; D014515:Ureteral Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D014517:Ureteral Obstruction / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D014548:Urinary Fistula / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy