title: [Complications of "Acucise" balloon endopyelotomy].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although the results of endopyelotomy for ureteropelvic junction (UPJ) stenosis are well known, our objective was to study the specific complications of treatment of UPJ stenoses by Acucise balloon.
  
  
  METHODS
  The specific complications of 50 patients (40 women, 10 men) treated consecutively by Acucise balloon endopyelotomy for UPJ stenosis from January 1994 to February 1999 were reviewed. The mean age was 47 years (range: 19-84 years). Thirty-five stenoses (70%) were primary. A polar pedicle was diagnosed by preoperative CT angiography in 5 cases. The endopyelotomy technique was that described by Chandhokf except in 3 cases in which section with strict external lateral orientation was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean operating time and mean length of hospital stay were 70 min (range: 35-180 min) and 5.4 days (range: 2-27 days), respectively. Six (12%) technical incidents were observed intraoperatively (3 cases of rupture of balloon) and 7 (14%) haemorrhagic incidents were observed perioperatively (5 polar pedicles). There were no conversions to open surgery. There were 4 (8%) major perioperative complications, all haemorrhagic, which required 2 radiological embolizations and one lumbotomy. Only these patients required transfusion (3.25 units/patient). Fourteen urinary tract infections were observed, including 2 cases of pyelonephritis (4%) and one case of septicaemia (2%). Nine patients experienced severe discomfort due to the double J stent. With a mean follow-up of 47 months, the overall success rate was 74%, not influenced by the development of a complication. Seven (58%) of the 12 patients with failure of endopyelotomy had a lower pole pedicle.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Acucise endopyelotomy is a simple and effective technique. However, rigorous indications and technique are essential due to the possibility of haemorrhagic complications, often related to a lower pole vessel.
authors.affiliation: Service d'Urologie et de Transplantation Rénale, Hôpital Salvator, 249, Bd. de Sainte Marguerite, BP, 51, 13274 Marseille.
authors.forename: Jochen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Walz
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lecamus
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lechevallier
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Barriol
authors.forename: Denis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bretheau
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Albert
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hermanowicz
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Coulange
mesh_terms: D002404:Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D004867:Equipment Design; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D012078:Renal Artery Obstruction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
vernacular_title: Complications de l'endopyélotomie par le ballonnet "Acucise".