title: Long-term results of endoureterotomy for benign ureteral and ureteroenteric strictures.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We reviewed the results of endoureterotomy for benign ureteral and ureteroenteric strictures to determine efficacy and factors associated with a successful outcome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Followup was available for 69 patients undergoing 77 endoureterotomies. Success was defined as symptomatic improvement and radiographic resolution of obstruction. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were constructed and data were analyzed with a Cox proportional hazards model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  None of 9 procedures in patients with the ipsilateral kidney contributing less than 25% of total renal function was successful. Among the 38 remaining benign ureteral stricture treatments with ipsilateral function 25% or greater with a median followup of 28.4 months among successful cases the 3-year success rate was 80%. No procedure failed beyond 11 months and there were 25 patients at risk beyond this point. Among the 30 remaining ureteroenteric stricture treatments with ipsilateral function 25% or greater the success rates at 1, 2 and 3 years were 73, 51 and 32%, respectively. Failures were noted during the first 36 months but none occurred later and 5 patients were at risk beyond this point. Overall, complete or tight strictures were less successfully treated. A nonischemic etiology, a stent 12F or greater and injection of triamcinolone into the bed of the incised stricture were associated with better outcome for strictures longer than 1 cm.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Endoureterotomy of benign ureteral strictures is associated with an excellent outcome (80% success at 3 years). Endoscopic treatment of ureteroenteric strictures is less successful but still offers a reasonable first step (32% 3-year success rate). For all strictures failure is likely if ipsilateral renal function is poor. For strictures longer than 1 cm. use of a stent 12F or greater and injection of triamcinolone appear to be beneficial.
authors.affiliation: Section of Urology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA.
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Wolf
authors.forename: O M
authors.initials: OM
authors.lastname: Elashry
authors.forename: R V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Clayman
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014517:Ureteral Obstruction / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D018666:Ureteroscopy