Primary obstructive megaureter in adults: need for an aggressive management strategy

"Urinary tract dilatation and vesicoureteral reflux - Adult outcomes, who should be followed, and how to follow them"

Long-term adult outcomes of children diagnosed with urinary tract dilatation (UTD) and vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) are not clearly documented in the literature. Likewise, follow-up protocols for these patients as they transition through adolescence and into adulthood vary with institution and cultures. Several studies have shown that individuals diagnosed with VUR in childhood are at higher risk of urinary tract infection (UTI) throughout their lives, even in the setting of prior VUR resolution or surgical correction. This is particularly relevant in patients with renal scarring, who are at higher risk of UTIs, hypertension and renal function deterioration in pregnancy. The risk of adverse maternal and fetal outcomes in pregnancy are higher for women with significant chronic kidney disease (CKD). Patients who underwent endoscopic injection or reimplantation should be counselled on the long-term particular risks associated with each intervention, including calcification of ureteric injection mounds, and the potential challenges of future endoscopic procedures following reimplantation. Although there is no evidence for the direct correlation between conservatively managed UTD in childhood, and symptomatic UTD diagnosed in adulthood, all patients should be aware of the long-term risks of persistent upper tract dilatation. Lastly, bladder-bowel dysfunction (BBD) management in adolescence can be more challenging and may contribute to symptomatic recurrence in this age group.

Laparoscopic ureteral reimplantation with extracorporeal tailoring and direct nipple ureteroneocystostomy for adult obstructive megaureter: long-term outcomes and comparison to open procedure

PURPOSE

To evaluate the long-term outcomes of laparoscopic ureteral reimplantation with extracorporeal tailoring and direct nipple ureteroneocystostomy for adult obstructive megaureter and compare the results with the open procedure.

METHODS

From January 2007 to July 2013, 22 patients underwent laparoscopic and 28 patients underwent open ureteral reimplantation for adult obstructive megaureter. For laparoscopic group, the dilated ureter was delivered out of through a 12-mm port and the distal end was tailored and formed into an antireflux nipple extracorporeally. The ureteral nipple was intracorporeally reimplanted into the posterolateral wall of the bladder. Demographics, complications and follow-up data were analyzed and compared retrospectively between the groups.

RESULTS

Baseline characteristics including age, gender, body mass index, affected side, age at diagnosis and follow-up time were statistically similar for the groups. All of the surgeries were performed successfully, and no major complications occurred. Comparing with the open group, the use of our novel laparoscopic procedure resulted in less estimated blood loss (50.0 vs. 71.0 ml; P = 0.001), less narcotic analgesic (3.0 vs. 18.0 mg; P = 0.01) and shorter hospital stay (5.1 vs. 7.9 days; P < 0.001). Long-term outcomes including rates of recurrent ureteral stricture (4.5 vs. 0%; P = 0.25), rates of vesicoureteral reflux (9.1 vs. 3.6%, P = 0.42) and success rates (86.4 vs. 96.9%; P = 0.45) did not significantly differ between the two groups.

CONCLUSION

Laparoscopic ureteral reimplantation with extracorporeal tailoring and direct nipple ureteroneocystostomy is a safe and equally effective as the open surgery for the long-term outcomes of adult obstructive megaureter.

Urolithiasis secondary to primary obstructive megaureter in an adult: a case report

Background

Primary obstructive megaureter is relatively uncommon in adults. This condition usually regresses spontaneously or is treated during infancy. It can remain asymptomatic for decades until adulthood when symptoms may manifest in the event of complications or during a routine radiologic imaging. Primary obstructive megaureter has been reported to favor stone formation in the upper urinary tract.

Case presentation

We present the case of a 35-year-old Moroccan man who had a 10-year history of intermittent left flank pain and hematuria. A computed tomography urogram revealed a left megaureter with giant ureteral and renal calculi.

Conclusions

Primary obstructive megaureter should be a differential diagnosis in an adult with hydroureteronephrosis associated with urolithiasis especially when there is kidney impairment. Through this case report we will discuss the diagnosis and management of primary obstructive megaureter associated with urolithiasis in adults.

Pure laparoscopic and robot-assisted laparoscopic reconstructive surgery in congenital megaureter: a single institution experience

To report our experience of pure laparoscopic and robot-assisted laparoscopic reconstructive surgery in congenital megaureter, seven patients (one bilateral) with symptomatic congenital megaureter underwent pure laparoscopic or robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery. The megaureter was exposed at the level of the blood vessel and was isolated to the bladder narrow area. Extreme ureter trim and submucosal tunnel encapsulation or papillary implantations and anti-reflux ureter bladder anastomosis were performed intraperitoneally by pure laparoscopic or robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery. The clinical data of seven patients after operation were analyzed, including the operation time, intraoperative complications, intraoperative bleeding volumes, postoperative complications, postoperative hospitalization time and pathological results. All of the patients were followed. The operation was successfully performed in seven patients. The mean operation times for pure laparoscopic surgery and robotic-assistant laparoscopic surgery were 175 (range: 150–220) and 187 (range: 170–205) min, respectively, and the mean operative blood loss volumes were 20 (range: 10–30) and 28.75 (range: 15–20) ml, respectively. There were no intraoperative complications. The postoperative drainage time was 5 (range: 4–6) and 5.75 (range: 5–6) d, respectively, and the indwelling catheter time was 6.33 (range: 4–8) d and 7 (range: 7–7) d, respectively. The postoperative hospitalization time was 7.67 (range: 7–8) d and 8 (range: 7–10) d, respectively. There was no obvious pain, no secondary bleeding and no urine leakage after the operation. Postoperative pathology reports revealed chronic urothelial mucosa inflammation. The follow-up results confirmed that all patients were relieved of their symptoms. Both pure laparoscopic and robot-assisted laparoscopic surgery using different anti-reflux ureter bladder anastomoses are safe and effective approaches in the minimally invasive treatment of congenital megaureter.

Urolithiasis in an adult with primary obstructive megaureter: a case report

This is a rare case of adult primary obstructive megaureter complicated by combined uric acid-oxalate lithiasis of the ureter and renal stones. A 24-year-old male patient presented with frank hematuria on exercise of 4 years duration. The patient had an open surgery in the form of excision of stenotic segment of ureter and left ureteric re-implantation with removal of ureteric and renal stones. Congenital megaureter is a diagnosis that urologists and radiologists need to consider in the setting of isolated distal ureteral dilation, as the diagnosis of adult megaureter may require more involved surgical measures to prevent recurrence of adverse symptoms.

Gross anatomical study of bilateral megaureters associated with renal pelvis dilatation and a giant urinary bladder: an adult cadaver with a brief review of the literature

Although bilateral megaureters are not an infrequent occurrence in the urinary tract, bilateral megaureters associated with bilateral renal pelvis dilatation and a giant urinary bladder appear to be rare. In this paper, a cadaver case of an adult Japanese male with bilateral megaureters is described. In addition to describing and illustrating this case, the anatomy and etiology of these anomalous structures is discussed with a brief review of the literature.

Laparoscopic Nephroureterectomy for Adult Patient with Primary Obstructive Megaureter

A 29-year-old female with a complaint of abdominal distension was referred to our hospital. She had a history of being treated for pyelonephritis three times. By computed tomography and retrograde pyelography, she was diagnosed with adult left primary megaureter. Her left renal function was severely deteriorated. She hoped for surgical intervention before becoming pregnant. Laparoscopic nephroureterectomy for megaureters seems to be difficult due to the large size. By sucking urine from an inserted ureteral catheter and setting trocar positions, we successfully performed laparoscopic nephroureterectomy for megaureter.

Primary obstructive megaureter with a giant lower ureteral stone synchronous with ipsilateral staghorn kidney

INTRODUCTION

Primary obstructive megaureter (POM) is uncommon in adults. Urolithiasis formation may uncover the underlying congenital abnormally of these patients.

PRESENTATION OF CASE

Herein, we present a 20-year-old man who was admitted with synchronous left renal staghorn and a lower giant ureteral stone. Radiologic evaluations revealed that POM is the underlying cause of the uncommon occurrence of synchronous left reno-ureteral stone formation.

DISCUSSION

Urinary tract stones are not uncommon in the POM. Although synchronous renal-ureteral unit stones are less common but staghorn-ureteral stones complex are very rare. In such conditions full radiologic work-up is recommended. Based on our literature review, this is the first reported case of staghorn-ureteral stones complex in the setting of adult POM.

CONCLUSION

In every case with dilated ureter concomitant with ureteral stone or renal stone, the POM should be included in the differential diagnosis.

Acute pain crisis as a presentation of primary megaureter in children

PURPOSE

Congenital ureteropelvic junction obstruction may present with flank pain, commonly referred to as a Dietl's crisis. We report on a similar presentation of primary megaureter.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

We identified all patients with any diagnosis of megaureter treated at our institution between 1993 and 2009 (n = 465). We included 103 patients with primary megaureter and, of these, identified patients presenting with pain. All patients with secondary megaureter were excluded.

RESULTS

Seventeen patients (20 megaureters) presented with pain and 10 (13 megaureters) presented with an acute pain crisis. Median age at presentation was 77 months. Seven children initially presented to the emergency department for evaluation and two of them required urgent stent placement for intractable pain. Obstruction was diagnosed in 8 patients. Six patients underwent ureteral reimplantation. Four patients were initially observed: one failed observation at 12 months due to worsening hydronephrosis and required surgery, one was lost to follow up, and two are still successfully being followed. All patients who underwent surgery had pain resolution.

CONCLUSION

In this contemporary cohort, approximately 17% of patients with primary megaureter presented with pain and 10% presented with an acute pain crisis. Most presenting in acute pain required surgery, which resolved presenting symptoms.

Urolithiasis in adults with congenital megaureter

The primary presentation of congenital megaureter in adults is rare. Development of urolithiasis may lead to this unusual underlying diagnosis. Urinary tract stones can form either within the dilated ureteral segment or in a part of the upper urinary tract proximal to the abnormal ureteral segment. We report two cases of nephrolithiasis that occurred in adults found to have segmental megaureter. The first case is that of a 58-year-old man who presented with left lower quadrant pain. Computed tomography scan revealed a 2-cm stone in the distal left ureter within an area of isolated segmental distal ureteral dilation. The second case is a 48-year-old man who developed recurrent renal urolithiasis associated with isolated distal megaureter.Although a rare condition in adults, congenital megaureter may present when kidney stones develop as a result of the ureteral abnormality. Typically, stones will develop within the dilated segment of ureter. Atypically, stones may develop away from the site of the underlying abnormality. Congenital megaureter is a diagnosis that urologists and radiologists need to consider in the setting of isolated distal ureteral dilation, as the diagnosis of adult megaureter may require more involved surgical measures to prevent recurrence of adverse symptoms.

Congenital urological anomalies diagnosed in adulthood - management considerations

OBJECTIVE

Despite worldwide availability of prenatal ultrasound, many patients are diagnosed in adult life with congenital anomalies such as ureteropelvic junction obstruction (UPJO), undescended testicle (UDT), ureterocele, hypospadias, vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) and primary obstructing megaureter (POM). The aim of this review was to describe these clinical conditions and their suggested management based on the available medical literature.

REVIEW

Adult UPJO is not a rare condition; symptomatic patients should be treated rather than observed. Treatment options are nephrectomy for non-functioning kidneys and reconstructive surgery for functioning renal units. The adult UDT has low fertility potential and increased cancer risk; hence most of the data in the literature indicate performing an orchiectomy. Adult ureteroceles are usually related to single systems and they are intravesical and less obstructive. For symptomatic patients endoscopic incision showed high efficacy for symptom elimination with minimal side effects. Primary hypospadias correction in the adult patient is feasible, but success rates are low compared to the pediatric age group. Secondary correction, whether primary correction was performed in childhood or adulthood, is a challenging task with a high complication rate. Treatment decisions regarding adult patients with VUR are difficult to make as the available data are inconsistent; there is no strict evidence that reflux in an adult is directly related to renal growth impairment, ascending pyelonephritis, and/or embryo loss in a pregnant woman. In contrast to the pediatric age group, adult POM is usually a symptomatic condition and related to a high complication rate including infections, stone formation and renal failure. Spontaneous resolution is rare and hence active surgical management is advocated.

CONCLUSION

Congenital urological anomalies identified in adulthood are not rare and pose a management challenge to the urologist. For most of the reviewed diseases, evidence-based management direction is difficult due to a lack of randomized trials and long-term follow up.

Symptomatic and complicated adult and adolescent primary obstructive megaureter--indications for surgery: analysis, outcome, and follow-up

OBJECTIVES

Primary obstructive megaureter is an uncommon presentation in adult patients. Although not reported frequently in published studies, the anomaly exists and warrants aggressive surgical management in contrast to its presentation in children.

METHODS

This study was composed of 55 patients (47 with unilateral and 8 with bilateral megaureters) with adult primary obstructive megaureter who were treated from January 1989 to December 2001. Their clinical presentation, renal function, radiologic data, treatment, complications, and follow-up were studied.

RESULTS

Of the 55 patients, 36 were male and 19 were female (age range 13 to 52 years). All patients were symptomatic except two. Forty-four patients (50 renoureteral units) required ureteral reimplantation, with tailoring in 33. Five patients were treated with endoscopic techniques (ureteral meatotomy in 3 and ureteroscopic retrieval of ureteral calculi in 2). Four patients required nephroureterectomy for nonfunctioning kidneys. Associated renal calculi were managed by extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy and pyelolithotomy and ureteral calculi by endoscopic methods or calculi removed at the time of ureteroneocystostomy. All but 4 patients showed improvement in hydroureter and hydronephrosis and developed no complications during the follow-up period of 1 to 12 years (mean 7). Five patients with bilateral megaureters had uremia. Only one improved after surgery with adequate drainage and 2 patients died despite reimplantation.

CONCLUSIONS

Most adult patients with megaureter are symptomatic. Complications such as stone formation and deranged function of the affected kidney are common and almost all require surgical intervention. Surgery in those with bilateral megaureters with advanced renal failure is mostly unrewarding.

Congenital megaureter in adults: endoscopic management with holmium: YAG laser--preliminary experience

PURPOSE

We report our experience with the holmium laser in the endoscopic management of primary obstructive megaureter (POM) in adults.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

From February 1997 to September 1998, three women and one man 26 to 63 years old underwent ureteroscopic endoureterotomy for POM with symptomatic vesicoureteral junction obstruction. The left ureter was more commonly affected than the right (R:L 1:3). The diagnosis of POM was based on a clinical history, intravenous urography, diuretic renography (T 1/2), and micturating cystogram. Endoureterotomy of the juxtavesical and intramural part of the ureter was performed in a retrograde fashion using the holmium laser. Incision of the subepithelial part of the ureter and the ureteral orifice was avoided. A pigtail stent was left in situ for 6 weeks. Postoperatively, patients were assessed at 3 months and yearly thereafter. The mean follow-up was 30.5 months.

RESULTS

All patients demonstrated symptomatic and radiologic improvement.

CONCLUSIONS

Endoscopic incision of POM in adults with the holmium laser is safe, simple, and minimally invasive. This procedure should be considered as an initial approach for patients who have failed conservative treatment. However, further follow-up is necessary to determine its long-term efficacy.