Displacement of ureteral orifices following anterior colporrhaphy.
OBJECTIVE
It is currently unknown whether ureteral orifices maintain their anatomic location after reconstructive pelvic surgeries. We therefore aimed to assess ureteral orifices' location after anterior colporrhaphy.


METHODS
Between August and December 2007, patients undergoing anterior colporrhaphy for advanced cystocele in our institution underwent cystoscopy with intravenous dye injection and placement of ureteral catheters before and after the surgery. Each ureteral orifice location was marked on an X-Y coordinate on the posterior bladder wall before and after surgery.


RESULTS
Thirteen women aged 44-80 years were included in the study. Postoperatively, ureteral orifices were noted to migrate 0.65 +/- 0.3 cm caudally (closer to the urethrovesical junction) (p = 0.002) and 0.32 +/- 0.5 cm laterally (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Anterior colporrhaphy is associated with significant caudal and lateral displacement of both ureteral orifices. These findings are of potential importance for pelvic reconstructive surgeons and may facilitate faster cystoscopic evaluation of ureteral patency postoperatively. They may also have implications on the angle of the preferred optical equipment to be used.
Dain
Lena
L
Division of Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic surgery, Haifa, Israel. lena2303@gmail.com
Auslander
Ron
R
Lissak
Arie
A
Lavie
Ofer
O
Abramov
Yoram
Y
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D052858:Cystocele / Q000601:surgery*; D003558:Cystoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D013509:Gynecologic Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014513:Ureter / Q000293:injuries*; D014555:Urination Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D014621:Vagina / Q000601:surgery*; D014718:Vesico-Ureteral Reflux / Q000453:epidemiology