Glide wires for delayed catheterization of severely obstructed ureters.
OBJECTIVE
Failure to retrogradely catheterize an obstructed ureter may require a nephrostomy. We describe an endoscopic technique to catheterize a severely obstructed ureter when the obstruction does not permit passage of a ureteral catheter over a wire.


METHODS
Using a cystoscope, a wire is passed beyond the obstruction. When the attempt to insert a ureteral catheter over the wire fails, the wire is left in place, fixed externally to a Foley catheter. A second attempt to insert a ureteral catheter is carried out 24-48 h later.


RESULTS
The procedure was performed in 5 patients. Ureteral catheterization, which was initially impossible, was performed successfully and without complications.


CONCLUSIONS
Maintaining a wire in place over a short period of time facilitates a subsequent ureteral catheterization.
Avidor
Y
Y
Department of Urology, Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel. avidory@netvision.net.il
Ben-Chaim
J
J
Greenstein
A
A
Rub
R
R
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003558:Cystoscopy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D014517:Ureteral Obstruction / Q000628:therapy*; D014546:Urinary Catheterization / Q000379:methods*