The appendix as right ureteral substitute in children.
OBJECTIVE
The appendix has occasionally been used to replace sections of the right ureter. We reviewed the literature of the last 25 years on the use of the appendix as right ureteral replacement and report our experience with right ureteral substitution using the appendix.


METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed the charts of 3 children who underwent appendiceal replacement of the right ureter. The appendix replaced the upper third of the ureter and the lower ureter in 1 and 2 cases, respectively.


RESULTS
Followups of 4, 7 and 15 years, respectively, demonstrated that the appendix transports urine satisfactorily and permits renal function to be maintained with no evidence of obstruction.


CONCLUSIONS
We believe that our small series supports the use of the appendix as a right ureteral substitute in select cases.
Richter
F
F
Section of Urology, University of Medicine and Dentistry-New Jersey Medical School, Newark, USA.
Stock
J A
JA
Hanna
M K
MK
D000328:Adult; D001065:Appendix / Q000637:transplantation*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006869:Hydronephrosis / Q000601:surgery*; D012092:Replantation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014513:Ureter / Q000601:surgery*; D014517:Ureteral Obstruction / Q000601:surgery*