Dual ureteral stent placement after redo laser endoureterotomy to manage persistent ureteral stricture

Endoscopic treatment of primary obstructive megaureter with high pressure balloon dilation in infants

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE

Ureteral reimplantation of the dilated ureter in infants is challenging; however, some patients with primary obstructive megaureter (POM) in this age group require intervention due to clinical or radiological progression. We sought to determine if high pressure balloon dilation (HPBD) can serve as a definitive treatment for POM in children under one year of age, or as a temporizing measure until later reimplantation.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

All patients from a single institution who underwent HPBD between October 2009 and May 2022 were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were excluded if older than 12 months or diagnosed with neurogenic bladder, posterior urethral valves, or obstructed refluxing megaureter. Patients with prior surgical intervention at the ureterovesical junction were excluded. Indications for surgery included progressive hydroureteronephrosis or urinary tract infection (UTI). Balloon dilation was performed via cystoscopy with fluoroscopic guidance, followed by placement of two temporary ureteral stents. Primary outcomes were improvement or resolution of megaureter and rates of subsequent reimplantation. Secondary outcomes included total number of anesthetics and postoperative UTIs.

RESULTS

Fifteen infants with median age of 7.6 months (IQR 3.8-9.7) underwent HPBD. Twelve (80%) patients were detected prenatally and 3 (20%) after a UTI. Indication for surgery was progressive hydroureteronephrosis in 10 patients (67%) and UTI in five (33%). All had SFU grade 3 or 4 hydronephrosis on preoperative ultrasound and median distal ureteral diameter was 13 mm. Median follow up was 2.9 years. Twelve (80%) succeeded with endoscopic treatment: 7 patients had an undetectable distal ureter on ultrasound at last follow-up, 5 were improved with median distal ureteral diameter of 7 mm. Three patients (20%) required ureteral reimplantation due to progressive dilation, all with grade 4 hydronephrosis and distal ureteral diameters were 11, 15, and 21 mm. Six patients (40%) required two anesthetics to complete endoscopic treatment. Among those, 4 patients required initial stent placement for passive dilation followed by a second anesthetic for HPBD weeks later. Two patients underwent repeat HPBD following postoperative proximal migration of the ureteral stents. All 15 patients had an additional anesthetic for removal of stents. Five patients (33%) were treated for a symptomatic UTI (4 febrile, 1 afebrile) with the stents indwelling but there were no UTIs in the group following stent removal.

CONCLUSION

Balloon dilation is a practical option for treatment of POM in infants, and in most cases (80%) avoids subsequent open surgery (over median 2.9 years of follow-up).

Evaluation of risk factors, treatment options, and prognostic-related factors in patients with benign ureteral strictures: An 8-year single-center experience

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the etiology, therapeutic effect, and prognosis-related factors of benign ureteral strictures.

METHODS

We analyzed the date of 142 patients with benign ureteral strictures from 2013 to 2021. Ninety-five patients received endourological treatment and 47 patients underwent reconstruction. Preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative information were compared and analyzed. Symptomatic improvement and radiographic blockage alleviation defined therapeutic success.

RESULTS

Stone-related factors caused 85.2% of cases. The overall success rate of endourological treatment was 51.6% versus 95.7% of reconstruction (p < 0.01). However, endourological treatment was better in terms of postoperative hospital stay time, operation time, and intraoperative blood loss (p < 0.001). In endourological group, patients with stricture length ≤2 cm, mild-to-moderate hydronephrosis, proximal or distal stricture had a higher success rate. Multivariate regression analysis showed that the surgical method was the only independent risk factor affecting success and recurrence. Reconstruction success rate was higher than endourological treatment (p = 0.001, OR 0.057, 95% CI (0.011-0.291)), and recurrence rate was also lower (p = 0.001, HR 0.074, 95% CI (0.016-0.338)). No obvious recurrence was seen in reconstruction, and the median recurrence time in endourological treatment was 51 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Stone-related factors are an important cause of benign ureteral strictures. Reconstruction is the gold standard treatment due to its high success rate and low recurrence rate. Endourological therapy is also preferred as the initial treatment in proximal or distal ureter with length ≤2 cm and mild-to-moderate hydronephrosis. Further close follow-up is required after treatment.

The "Cut-to-the-Light" Technique Laser Endoureterotomy for Complete Ureteral Obstruction Resurfaces! A New Application of an Old Technique

Objective

To describe our new endoscopic approach in treating iatrogenic ureteral stenosis using the “cut-to-The-light” technique.

Methods

Case of a 54 year-old female patient who underwent a right percutaneous nephrolithotomy to treat a staghorn calculus with two subsequent complimentary ureteroscopies complicated by a severe proximal ureteral obstruction. An antegrade flexible uretereroscope and a retrograde rigid ureteroscope were used to locate the stenosis. With the aid of a 365-µm Ho: YAG laser fiber (settings 0.4 J, 12 Hz), we managed to successfully create a small incision in the stenotic lesion, the rigid ureterscopy light was clearly seen by the antegrade flexible ureteroscope and a through-and-through guidewire was then placed, securing the ureter. Ureteral dilatation was then performed followed by a full thickness incision of the ureteral stenosis. A single 8Fr, 28 cm double J ureteral stent was finally placed after stone fragmentation.

Results

The operating time was 200 mins. No blood loss. No fever or signs of UTI were seen shortly after the operation. The Foley catheter was successfully removed at day one post-op. The hospital stay was short of only 2 days.

Conclusion

The “cut-to-the-light” technique is a new application in the arsenal of ureteral stricture treatment that has been scarcely described in the literature before. The use of this method seems to offer excellent outcomes thus demonstrating the importance of this minimally invasive technique as an alternative to conventional invasive methods used. We believe that studies with larger samples and longer follow up are needed in order to fully determine the benefits of this method and to assess and reveal its suitable application and its drawbacks.

Long-Term Outcomes of Two Ipsilateral vs Single Double-J Stent After Laser Endoureterotomy for Bilharzial Ureteral Strictures

Background: Laser endoureterotomy became a preferable choice for managing benign ureteral strictures. Ureteral stricture caused by bilharzias is characterized by focal destruction of ureteral musculature, ending by fibrosis, making it poor responder to endoureterotomy. There is no consensus about the ideal ureteral stent size after endoureterotomy. However, many researches recommend larger stents caliber (12-14F). We assess long-term efficacy of insertion of two ipsilateral Double-J stents vs single Double-J stent after laser endoureterotomy for bilharzial ureteral stricture. Materials and Methods: Within 4 years, 70 patients underwent retrograde laser endoureterotomy for bilharzial ureteral stricture (diagnosed by positive history of bilharziasis, positive serology test, and/or bilharzial cystoscopic finding). Patients with history of stone, urologic or pelvic surgery were excluded. Patients were randomized into two groups: the first group (35 patients) received ipsilateral two Double-J (7F each) postendoureterotomy, whereas the second group (35 patients) received one Double-J (7F). Double-Js were removed after 8 weeks. Follow-up was done regularly by clinical interpretation and imaging studies. Patients' characteristics, operative data, and postoperative outcomes (subjectively and objectively) were compared in both groups. Results: Sixty-three patients completed follow-up >18 months, mean follow-up 30 ± 4 months [19-41], and mean stricture length 1.4 ± 0.6 cm [0.5-3.0], with no statistical significance between both groups. Success proved by relief of symptoms and radiographic resolution of obstruction. The overall success rate was significantly better in 2-Double-J group than in 1-Double-J group (83.9% vs 53.1%) p = 0.009, and also for stricture >1.5 cm (85.7% vs 38.5%) p = 0.018, respectively. Conclusions: Insertion of two ipsilateral Double-J, after laser endoureterotomy for bilharzial ureteral stricture associated with long-term success rate better than insertion of 1-Double-J, especially for stricture segment >1.5 cm.