title: Endoluminal ultrasonography before retrograde endopyelotomy: can the results match laparoscopic pyeloplasty?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To present the results of endopyelotomy using endoluminal ultrasonography (EUS) to identify crossing vessels, as the success rates of endopyelotomy are generally lower than pyeloplasty, especially in patients with crossing vessels.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-one consecutive patients who underwent EUS before a planned retrograde endopyelotomy were analysed retrospectively. EUS was used to direct the endopyelotomy incision for patients with crossing vessels. Treatment was considered successful if the patient was asymptomatic and unobstructed or improved on renography. The results were compared to those from 18 patients treated by laparoscopic pyeloplasty, some of whom had undergone EUS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Crossing vessels were identified in 27 of the 41 patients (66%). Primary treatment consisted of endopyelotomy for 26 patients and laparoscopic pyeloplasty for 15. The overall success rate for 24 endopyelotomy patients with an adequate follow-up (mean 19 months) was 71%, with more success in patients with no crossing vessels (11 of 13 (85%) vs six of 11 (55%)). Of the 18 patients treated by laparoscopic pyeloplasty (mean follow-up 15.1 months) 17 were successful.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results for endopyelotomy were disappointing in patients with crossing vessels, despite using EUS. The results suggest that patients with crossing vessels should be treated by laparoscopic pyeloplasty. More data are needed to compare endopyelotomy with laparoscopic pyeloplasty in patients with no crossing vessels.
authors.affiliation: Bristol Urological Institute, Southmead Hospital, Bristol, UK.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Parkin
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: P V S
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Timoney
authors.forename: F X
authors.initials: FX
authors.lastname: Keeley
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004564:Electrocoagulation; D019160:Endosonography; D005260:Female; D005471:Fluoroscopy; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007682:Kidney Pelvis / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014517:Ureteral Obstruction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D018666:Ureteroscopy / Q000379:methods