title: Retrograde endopyelotomy: a comparative study of hot-wire balloon and ureteroscopic laser.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study compared the immediate and long-term results and complications of hot-wire balloon endopyelotomy and ureteroscopic holmium laser endopyelotomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between March 1994 and January 2002, 64 patients with a primary (N = 52) or secondary (N = 12) ureteropelvic junction obstruction underwent retrograde endopyelotomy using either a fluoroscopically guided hot-wire balloon incision (N = 27) or a ureteroscopically guided, direct-vision holmium laser incision (N = 37). This study group included 46 women and 18 men aged 13 to 79 years (mean 38.9 years). The indications and contraindications to a retrograde approach were identical in each group and included documented functionally significant evidence of obstruction, no upper-tract stones, obstruction <2 cm, and no radiographic evidence of entanglement of crossing vessels at the ureteropelvic junction. Immediate and long-term outcomes were obtained from a prospective registry, with success defined as resolution of symptoms and radiographic relief of obstruction as determined by follow-up with intravenous urography, diuretic renography, or both. Follow-up ranged from 39 to 133 months (mean 75.6 months).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Length of hospital stay, indwelling stent duration, and long-term success rates (77.8% v 74.2% in the hot-wire balloon and holmium-laser group, respectively) were equivalent. However, two patients in the hot-wire balloon group developed bleeding necessitating transfusion and selective embolization of lower-pole vessels. No patient in the ureteroscopic group suffered a major complication.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These two alternatives for retrograde endopyelotomy provide comparable success rates for similarly selected patients. However, because significant hemorrhagic complications developed with greater frequency in those treated with the hot-wire balloon, our preference is for a ureteroscopic approach, as it allows direct visual control of the incision and thus, a lower risk of significant bleeding.
authors.affiliation: Glickman Urological Institute, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio, USA. Lee.Ponsky@uhhospital.org
authors.forename: Lee E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Ponsky
authors.forename: Stevan B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Streem
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002404:Catheterization / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007682:Kidney Pelvis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D053685:Laser Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014517:Ureteral Obstruction / Q000601:surgery*; D018666:Ureteroscopy / Q000379:methods*