title: Double-J stent insertion across vesicoureteral junction--is it a valuable initial approach in neonates and infants with severe primary nonrefluxing megaureter?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the role of double-J stent insertion in perinatally detected primary nonrefluxing megaureters as a method to temporize treatment in patients with impaired renal function or to prevent function loss in patients treated expectantly, but deemed at high risk of deterioration.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two neonates and 8 infants with a ureter greater than 10 mm and an obstructive excretion pattern, including 3 cases with renal function less than 40%, were selected to undergo double-J stent insertion for a 6-month period. Patients underwent surgery if the ureter redilated and the excretion pattern was obstructive at reassessment 3 months after stent removal.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Stents were placed at a median age of 3 months (range 1 to 6). Open insertion was necessary in 5 cases (50%). Seven patients (70%) developed stent-related complications (five breakthrough urinary infections) requiring early stent removal in 2 (20%). Five patients (50%) underwent surgery at a median age of 14 months (range 13 to 27), including the 3 patients with decreased renal function at presentation. None required ureteral tapering. None experienced any renal function loss with respect to the initial evaluation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Double-J stent insertion across the vesicoureteral junction allows for effective internal drainage of primary nonrefluxing megaureters, but at the cost of a 70% morbidity rate and various technical drawbacks. Therefore, stenting should be considered on a case-by-case basis. The procedure seems valuable to temporize surgery in patients with decreased renal function. However, given the associated morbidity, it seems impractical for patients with preserved function selected in accordance with currently available prognostic indicators.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Surgery, Istituto Materno Infantile, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Castagnetti
authors.forename: Marcello
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cimador
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sergio
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: De Grazia
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D015607:Stents; D014513:Ureter; D014515:Ureteral Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery*; D001743:Urinary Bladder; D016055:Urinary Retention / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery*; D013520:Urologic Surgical Procedures; D014718:Vesico-Ureteral Reflux