Surgical treatment for ureterocele with special reference to lower urinary tract reconstruction

Associations of ureteroceles location and system anatomy with outcomes of endoscopic treatment: A systematic review and meta-analysis

INTRODUCTION

Ureteroceles are a congenital abnormality of the ureter that can cause significant complications. Endoscopic treatment is a commonly used treatment approach. The aim of this review is to assess the results of endoscopic treatment for ureteroceles with consideration to their location and system anatomy.

METHODS

A meta-analysis was conducted by searching electronic databases for studies comparing outcomes of endoscopic treatment for ureteroceles. Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) was employed to evaluate the potential for bias. The primary outcome was the rate of secondary procedures required following endoscopic treatment. Secondary outcomes were inadequate drainage and post-operative vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) rates. A subgroup analysis was performed to investigate possible causes of heterogeneity in the primary outcome. The statistical analysis was conducted using Review Manager 5.4.

RESULTS

There were 28 retrospective observational studies, published between 1993 and 2022, including 1044 patients with primary outcomes in this meta-analysis. The quantitative synthesis showed that ectopic and duplex system ureteroceles were significantly associated with higher rate of secondary operation compared to intravesical and single system ureteroceles, respectively (OR: 5.42, 95% CI: 3.93-7.47; and OR: 5.10, 95% CI: 3.31-7.87). The associations were still significant in subgroup analysis based on follow up duration, average age at surgery, and duplex system only. For secondary outcomes, incidence of inadequate drainage were significantly higher in ectopic (OR: 2,01, 95% CI: 1.18-3.43), but not in duplex system ureteroceles (OR: 1.94, 95% CI: 0,97-3.86). Post-operative VUR rates were higher in both ectopic (OR: 1.79, 95% CI: 1.29-2.47) and duplex system ureteroceles group (OR: 1.88, 95% CI: 1.15-3.08).

CONCLUSION

Ectopic ureteroceles and duplex system ureteroceles were associated with worse outcomes following endoscopic treatment compared to intravesical and single system ureteroceles, respectively. It is recommended to carefully select patients, conduct pre-operative evaluations, and closely monitor patients with ectopic and duplex system ureteroceles.

Is lower urinary tract surgery without upper pole heminephrectomy safe and effective in the long-term treatment of duplex system ureterocele?

Objective:

The study aimed to retrospectively evaluate postoperative results of patients with duplex system ureterocele (DSU) who underwent endoscopic ureterocele incision (UI), lower urinary tract reconstruction (LUTR) or both, and investigate the necessity of upper pole heminephrectomy (UPH) in ureterocele treatment.

Patients and methods:

In total, 44 patients with DSU who were operated on in December 2005 and December 2018 were evaluated for patient characteristics, ureterocele location, differential renal function (DRF), vesicoureteral reflux (VUR), postoperative incontinence, proteinuria, hypertension and urinary tract infection (UTI).

Results:

UI was performed in 27 of 44 cases (61.3%) as the first-line treatment. Ten of them (37%) had no urinary infection or renal function loss at a mean of 3 years (1.5–7 years). LUTR was needed in 17 patients after UI due to VUR in 14 patients and bladder outlet obstruction (BOO) in 3 patients. In total, 34 patients who underwent LUTR, proteinuria or incontinence were not detected in the mean 6 years’ follow-up. Thirty-three patients (97%) had identical renal scans and similar DRF before and after the operation. No patient underwent UPH.

Conclusion:

UI must be considered the first-line treatment in DSU in infancy. In older patients, especially with VUR, LUTR is effective and safe and UPH mostly is not necessary.

Level of evidence:

4

Cystoscopic transurethral incision in simplex and duplex ureteroceles-is it the definitive procedure?

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of primary cystoscopic transurethral incision (CTUI) in the management of paediatric ureteroceles. The secondary aim is to compare the efficacy of CTUI between simplex and duplex systems.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This is a retrospective review of consecutive paediatric patients requiring surgical intervention for ureterocele. Data collected for analysis included demographics, diagnostic, pre-operative investigations, operative interventions and postoperative variables.

RESULTS

Over a 19-year period, 79 consecutive cases were identified, and 42 were male (53.2%). The mean follow-up was 6.7 years. Seventy-three (92.4%) cases underwent primary CTUI; 50 of these cases (68.5%) required no further procedures during the study period. Sixty-one cases were treated by endoscopic intervention alone (77.2%). Forty-one (51.9%) cases had a simplex system, and 38 (48.1%), a duplex system. There was no statistically significant difference in the efficacy of primary CTUI in simplex vs duplex systems. Of the 20 patients who had pre-operative and postoperative micturating cystourethrograms performed, seven (35%) developed de-novo postoperative vesicoureteric reflux after CTUI.

CONCLUSION

Primary CTUI is a safe, minimally invasive procedure that is definitive in the majority of children presenting with a ureterocele that requires intervention. There was no difference in success of primary CTUI between simplex or duplex systems.

Single-stage surgical approach in complicated paediatric ureteral duplication: surgical and functional outcome

PURPOSE

Surgical approach to children with complicated ureteral duplication is discussed controversially. Our aim was to determine the outcome of children with complicated renal duplication undergoing a single-stage surgical approach with laparoscopic partial nephrectomy and open bladder reconstruction.

METHODS

Data of patients from 2004 to 2008 were investigated retrospectively. Outcome was analyzed in terms of postoperative course, renal function, urinary tract infection and functional voiding.

RESULTS

Thirteen patients were treated with laparoscopic partial nephrectomy and reconstruction of the lower urinary tract in a single-stage approach. Median age at operation was 15 months (2-63 m). One girl had a renal triplication. 7/13 patients presented with an ectopic ureterocele, two with an ectopic ureter, severe vesicoureteral reflux occurred in 6 patients. All patients had non-functioning renal moieties. Mean operative time was 239 min (129-309; SD 50). One re-operation was necessary 4 years after primary surgery due to a pole remnant. All patients had uneventful recoveries without evidence of recurrent UTI. Postoperative 99mTc-MAG3 scans showed no significant reduction of partial renal function (p = 0.4), and no signs of obstruction (p = 0.188). During a median follow-up of 60 months (49-86), dysfunctional voiding occurred in one patient.

CONCLUSIONS

In children with complicated ureteral duplication a definitive single-stage procedure is feasible and shows excellent functional results.