Etiology and Ureteral Reconstruction Strategy for Iatrogenic Ureteral Injuries: A Retrospective Single-Center Experience

Outcomes of Robot-assisted Appendiceal Ureteroplasty From a Multi-institutional Experience

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the viability of robot-assisted appendiceal ureteroplasty as an innovative surgical approach for the reconstruction of ureteral strictures in cases where traditional methods are unsuitable.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective review of 14 patients who underwent robot-assisted appendiceal ureteroplasty for right-sided ureteral stricture disease at three academic centers between March 2018 and November 2022. Patients were selected based on stricture characteristics, tissue quality, and the need for tissue transfer techniques. Surgical outcomes, including stricture-free rates, renal function, and complication rates, were analyzed.

RESULTS

The median patient age was 63years, with a balanced gender distribution. The median stricture length was 4.75 cm. The majority of strictures were located in the proximal ureter (50%). Surgical approaches included appendiceal onlay flaps (71.4%) and interposition flaps (28.6%). The median operative time was 268 minutes, with an average estimated blood loss of 75 mL. Postoperatively, ureteral patency was achieved in 92.9% of patients. Two patients (14.3%) experienced urinary tract infections requiring readmission. There was no significant change in serum creatinine levels postoperatively. Hydronephrosis grade significantly improved following surgery (P = .025).

CONCLUSION

Robot-assisted appendiceal ureteroplasty is a safe and effective technique for managing ureteral strictures. It offers a high success rate with minimal complications, making it a valuable addition to the urologic surgeon's armamentarium for complex ureteral reconstructions.

A delayed diagnosis of iatrogenic ureteral injury results in increased morbidity

This study aimed to register and analyse outcomes after iatrogenic ureteral injuries (IUI) with special emphasis on potential consequences of a delayed diagnosis, and further to analyse if the incidence of IUI has changed during the study period. 108 patients treated for an IUI during 2001-2021 were included. Injuries due to endourological procedures, planned tumour resection and traumatic injuries were excluded. All relevant information to answer the research questions were entered into a database. Chi-square and t-tests were used for categorical and continuous variables respectively. Regression analysis was used to evaluate potential change of incidence in IUIs over time. Our results showed that most IUIs (74, 69%) were caused by gynaecological surgery. 49 (45%) had a delayed diagnosis (not diagnosed intraoperatively). Younger age (mean 50 vs 62 years, p < 0.001) and benign indication for laparoscopic hysterectomy (OR 8.0, p < 0.001) predisposed for a delayed diagnosis. Patients with a delayed diagnosis had a higher number of secondary injury related procedures (mean 4.6 vs 1.7, p < 0.001), hospital admissions (mean 3.0 vs 0.8, p < 0.001) and longer hospital stays (mean 20.6 vs 3.9 days p < 0.001) compared to patients with an intraoperative diagnosis. There was complete recovery for 91% of the patients. We did not observe any changes in IUI incidence during the study period. In conclusion, our study underlines that IUI can cause major morbidity for the patient affected if not diagnosed intraoperatively. Benign indication and younger age are predictors for a delayed diagnosis. The prognosis is good, with 91% full recovery. No significant changes in incidence of IUIs were observed.

Laparoscopic ureteroneocystostomy with bladder flap for benign ureteral stenosis: our initial experience

To present our experience with laparoscopic ureteroneocystostomy with bladder flap (LUCBF) for treating benign ureteral stenosis and evaluate its feasibility and efficacy. The clinical data of 27 patients with benign ureteral stenosis who underwent LUCBF were retrospectively analyzed. After identification and excision of the ureteral stenosis segment, the healthy ureteral stump was dissected and incised longitudinally. A U-shaped or spiral bladder flap was harvested from the anterolateral bladder wall for ureteroplasty. All patients underwent LUCBF successfully, including 14 patients were combined with psoas hitch technique, between 90 and 220 min (median, 155 min). The median length of ureteral defect was 6 cm (range, 5-17 cm). The median blood loss was 40 ml (20-150 ml). The median indwelling time of double-J stent was 8 weeks (range, 4-8 weeks). Five patients (10.6%) suffered postoperative complications during the follow-up period (range, 12-48 months), including fever, hematuria, urinary tract infection and recurrent stenosis. The success rate was 96.3% (26/27). Patients with long ureter defects had longer operative time and more blood loss than short ureter defects. LUCBF was a safe and feasible technique for benign ureteral stenosis. Long ureter defect was related to longer operative time and more blood loss.

The efficacy of ureteroscopic triage in increasing the cure rate of the first-line treatment for a ureterovaginal fistula resulting from radical hysterectomy

Study objective

To explore the effect of pretreatment with ureteroscopic triage for iatrogenic ureterovaginal fistula (UVF) resulting from radical hysterectomy.

Design

A retrospective cohort study.

Setting

Department of gynecology at a tertiary medical center.

Patients

Women diagnosed with UVF secondary to radical hysterectomy at our center between April 2008 to June 2018.

Interventions

The patients were divided into two groups according to whether pretreatment with ureteroscopic triage was performed. Those in the non-triage group underwent retrograde placement of a double-J stent immediately following diagnosis as the first-line therapy. Patients in the triage group were first evaluated under ureteroscopy, their ureteral injuries were then classified into different grades and then underwent different treatments as the first-line therapy, including stent placement or reconstruction surgeries. The cure rate of the first-line therapy and the timeliness of the implementation of adjuvant radiotherapy were subsequently analyzed.

Measurements and main results

Ninety-eight UVF patients were included. The demographics, ECOG status, stage of cervical cancer (FIGO 2009), types and onset time of symptoms were not different between the two groups. There were 54 patients in the nontriage group, with an overall first-line cure rate of 70.4% and a timely implementation rate of adjuvant radiotherapy of 38.5%. There were 44 patients in the evaluation group, with an overall first-line cure rate of 93.2% and a timely implementation rate of adjuvant radiotherapy of 90.0%. The differences were statistically significant (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Ureteroscopic triage of ureteral injuries can guide the selection of the optimal first-line therapy for patients with UVF secondary to radical hysterectomy, increase the cure rate and ensure the timely implementation of adjuvant radiotherapy.

Comparison of split-cuff nipple and modified Lich-Gregoir ureteroneocystostomy in iatrogenic distal ureteral injuries: tertiary care center experience

PURPOSE

In this study, we aimed to compare the results of split-cuff nipple and modified Lich-Gregoir ureteroneocystostomy, which are the most commonly used techniques in stage ≥ 3 iatrogenic distal ureteral injuries.

METHODS

The files of patients who were treated for iatrogenic distal ureteral injuries in our clinic between January 2013 and January 2019 were retrospectively reviewed. A total of 60 patients who underwent either intra-vesical split-cuff nipple ureteroneocystostomy (Group A) or extra-vesical modified Lich-Gregoir ureteroneocystostomy (Group B) operations were included in the study. The success of ureteroneocystostomy was defined as no additional surgery requirement, no progression of hydronephrosis on imaging, and normal contrast transition on imaging.

RESULTS

Thirty-four patients underwent split-cuff nipple and 26 patients underwent modified Lich-Gregoir ureteroneocystostomy. The treatment was successful in 53 (88.3%) patients and failed in seven (11.7%). Complications occurred in 19 (31.7%) patients, of whom 14 (23.3%) had minor and five (8.3%) had major complications. The rate of postoperative complications was significantly higher in Group A than in Group B (p = 0.019). There was no significant difference between Group A and Group B in terms of the success ratio (p = 1), rate of major complications (p = 0.372), and postoperative hospitalization times (p = 0.254).

CONCLUSION

In this study, a higher complication rate was found in patients with iatrogenic ureteral injuries who underwent ureteroneocystostomy with the split-cuff ureteral nipple technique compared to those who underwent this operation with the modified Lich-Gregoir technique. However, no significant difference was observed between these two techniques in terms of treatment success and major complications.

Systematic review of urological injury during caesarean section and hysterectomy

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS

We aim to review iatrogenic bladder and ureteric injuries sustained during caesarean section and hysterectomy.

METHODS

A search of Cochrane, Embase, Medline and grey literature was performed using methods pre-published on PROSPERO. Eligible studies described iatrogenic bladder or ureter injury rates during caesarean section or hysterectomy. The 15 largest studies were included for each procedure sub-type and meta-analyses performed. The primary outcome was injury incidence. Secondary outcomes were risk factors and preventative measures.

RESULTS

Ninety-six eligible studies were identified, representing 1,741,894 women. Amongst women undergoing caesarean section, weighted pooled rates of bladder or ureteric injury per 100,000 procedures were 267 or 9 events respectively. Injury rates during hysterectomy varied by approach and pathological condition. Weighted pooled mean rates for bladder injury were 212-997 events per 100,000 procedures for all approaches (open, vaginal, laparoscopic, laparoscopically assisted vaginal and robot assisted) and all pathological conditions (benign, malignant, any), except for open peripartum hysterectomy (6,279 events) and laparoscopic hysterectomy for malignancy (1,553 events). Similarly, weighted pooled mean rates for ureteric injury were 9-577 events per 100,000 procedures for all hysterectomy approaches and pathologies, except for open peripartum hysterectomy (666 events) and laparoscopic hysterectomy for malignancy (814 events). Surgeon inexperience was the prime risk factor for injury, and improved anatomical knowledge the leading preventative strategy.

CONCLUSIONS

Caesarean section and most types of hysterectomy carry low rates of urological injury. Obstetricians and gynaecologists should counsel the patient for her individual risk of injury, prospectively establish risk factors and implement preventative strategies.