title: Endoscopic injection of dextranomer hyaluronic acid copolymer for the treatment of vesicoureteral reflux in duplex ureters.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Endoscopic injection of dextranomer hyaluronic acid copolymer (DxHA) has been increasingly utilized for the treatment of complex cases of vesicoureteral reflux (VUR). We present our 6-year experience with the use of DxHA for the treatment of VUR in duplex ureters.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between July 2001 and April 2007, 52 children were identified retrospectively who had been treated by endoscopic injection of DxHA for VUR into duplex ureters. Mean age was 3 years (range 9 months-10 years) with a mean maximum grade of reflux of III (range 2-5). The refluxing lower pole ureter was injected using a subureteric injection technique (STING) or intraureteric injection technique (utilizing the hydrodistention implantation technique). The endpoint in all cases was the loss of hydrodistention of the ureteral orifice. Voiding cystourethrograms was obtained at 6 weeks-3 months to evaluate for the presence of VUR. Cure was defined as complete resolution of reflux in the treated moiety.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After initial treatment, 38/52 (73%) patients were cured. Of the 14 failures, nine children underwent repeat endoscopic treatment with a 67% (6/9) resolution rate for repeat injection. Seven of the initial failures failed to grade I VUR. Overall, 85% (44/52) were cured after one or two treatments, 98% (51/52) were improved and only one (1.9%) with grade V VUR required open surgery. The treatment was well tolerated and there were no associated complications.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Endoscopic injection of DxHA copolymer corrected VUR in 85% of children with VUR into duplex ureters. This minimally invasive approach should be considered as a viable alternative to open surgery or antibiotic prophylaxis for the treatment of VUR associated with duplex ureters.
authors.affiliation: Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, USA; Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Joseph A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Molitierno
authors.forename: Hal C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Scherz
authors.forename: Andrew J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Kirsch
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003911:Dextrans / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007223:Infant; D007267:Injections; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014513:Ureter / Q000002:abnormalities*; D018666:Ureteroscopy; D014718:Vesico-Ureteral Reflux / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D003911:Dextrans; C487487:dextranomer-hyaluronic acid copolymer; D006820:Hyaluronic Acid