Iatrogenic ureteric injuries following abdomino-pelvic operations: a 10-year tertiary care hospital experience in Tanzania

Long-term economic outcomes of ureteral injury in the United States

OBJECTIVES

Ureteral injuries (UIs) during surgical procedures can have serious consequences for patients. Although UIs can result in substantial clinical burden, few studies report the impact of these injuries on payer reimbursement and patient cost-sharing. This retrospective study evaluated 30-day, 90-day, and 1-year healthcare resource utilization for patients with UIs and estimated patient and payer costs.

METHODS

Patients aged ≥ 12 years who underwent abdominopelvic surgery from January 2016 to December 2018 were identified in a United States claims database. Patients were followed for 1 year to estimate all-cause healthcare visits and costs for patients and payers. Surgeries resulting in UIs within 30 days from the surgery date were matched to surgeries without UIs to estimate UI-attributable visits and costs.

RESULTS

Five hundred and twenty-two patients with UIs were included. Almost a third (29.9%) of patients with UIs had outpatient surgery. Patients with UIs had slightly more healthcare visits and a 15.3% higher 30-day hospital readmission rate than patients without UIs. Patient costs due to UIs were not statistically significant, but annual payer costs attributable to UIs were $38,859 (95% CI = 28,142-49,576), largely driven by inpatient costs.

CONCLUSIONS

UIs add substantial cost for payers and result in more healthcare visits for patients. These findings highlight the importance of including inpatient and outpatient settings for UI prevention. Although UIs are rare, the associated patient and payer burdens are high; thus, protocols or techniques are needed to recognize and avert UIs as current guideline recommendations are lacking.

Spectrum of Multidetector Computed Tomography Imaging Findings in Iatrogenic Abdominopelvic Injuries: A Comprehensive Pictorial Review

Iatrogenic injuries are unavoidable complications of surgeries and minimally invasive procedures. They are generally classified into vascular and nonvascular injuries and based on the time of injury into early and late injuries. Iatrogenic injuries, particularly vascular injuries, increase the mortality and morbidity, with prolongation of hospital-stay. Multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) is a highly sensitive, and often the first imaging modality in suspected iatrogenic injuries. This pictorial review elucidates the imaging considerations and appearances of iatrogenic injuries of the abdominopelvic organs on MDCT.

2023 WSES guidelines for the prevention, detection, and management of iatrogenic urinary tract injuries (IUTIs) during emergency digestive surgery

Iatrogenic urinary tract injury (IUTI) is a severe complication of emergency digestive surgery. It can lead to increased postoperative morbidity and mortality and have a long-term impact on the quality of life. The reported incidence of IUTIs varies greatly among the studies, ranging from 0.3 to 1.5%. Given the high volume of emergency digestive surgery performed worldwide, there is a need for well-defined and effective strategies to prevent and manage IUTIs. Currently, there is a lack of consensus regarding the prevention, detection, and management of IUTIs in the emergency setting. The present guidelines, promoted by the World Society of Emergency Surgery (WSES), were developed following a systematic review of the literature and an international expert panel discussion. The primary aim of these WSES guidelines is to provide evidence-based recommendations to support clinicians and surgeons in the prevention, detection, and management of IUTIs during emergency digestive surgery. The following key aspects were considered: (1) effectiveness of preventive interventions for IUTIs during emergency digestive surgery; (2) intra-operative detection of IUTIs and appropriate management strategies; (3) postoperative detection of IUTIs and appropriate management strategies and timing; and (4) effectiveness of antibiotic therapy (including type and duration) in case of IUTIs.

Management strategies and root causes of missed iatrogenic intraoperative ureteral injuries with delayed diagnosis: a retrospective cohort study of 40 cases

BACKGROUND

Intraoperative iatrogenic ureteral injuries represent rare technical surgical complications with the potential for adverse patient outcomes, particularly when the diagnosis is delayed. Ideally, these technical complications are recognized and repaired intraoperatively. This study was designed to investigate the root causes and outcomes of missed intraoperative ureteral injuries at a tertiary urology referral centre in Tunisia.

METHODS

This is a retrospective cohort study in a tertiary urology referral centre in Tunis from January 1^st, 2015, to December 31^st, 2020, including all patients with iatrogenic ureteral injury, not diagnosed intraoperatively. The factors associated with the success of endoscopic treatment and those associated with the unfavourable evolution were investigated.

RESULTS

A total of 40 iatrogenic ureteral injuries were included. Gynaecological surgery was responsible for 85% of ureteral injuries, mainly during hysterectomies (55%). The symptoms were dominated by low back pain (37.5%) and pyelonephritis (25%). Endoscopic treatment was attempted in 22 cases, it was sufficient in 12 cases. Ureteral injury required surgical treatment in 24 cases, and ureteroneocystostomy was performed in 16 cases. Nephrectomy was performed in eight cases, representing 20% of injuries, including three cases as the first treatment for late-diagnosed cases with a destroyed kidney. In the analytical study, endoscopic treatment was sufficient in 50% in case of ureteral fistula versus 27% in case of ureteral stenosis (p = 0.04). Nephrectomy was performed in 10% of cases when ureteral injury was diagnosed within the first month postoperatively compared to 60% of cases when this delay exceeded one month (p = 0.004).

CONCLUSION

Iatrogenic ureteral injuries discovered postoperatively are mostly secondary to gynaecologic surgery. Although endoscopic treatment is usually performed as a first treatment, a more aggressive surgical is often necessary, with a nephrectomy rate of 20%.

Effectiveness and Cost of Stenting in Ureteral Injury in Colorectal Surgeries in the US: 2015 - 2019

Background

Intraoperative ureteral injury (IUI) during colorectal surgery can have devastating consequences. This study aimed to assess the clinical and economic impact of pre-operative ureteral stenting in colorectal surgeries.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study was conducted using United States hospital data (October 2015 - December 2019). IUI incidence was examined across selected inpatient surgery types (elective colectomy, enterectomy, proctectomy, enterostomy, other colorectal procedures; emergency colectomy). Stenting effectiveness was evaluated as the difference in IUI and intraoperative detection rates between propensity score-matched groups. The additional hospital cost for stenting was also estimated considering the savings from IUIs that were potentially avoidable or detected by stenting.

Results

In total, 283,549 colorectal surgeries were analyzed. Across surgery types, stent use and IUI incidence ranged from 1.47% - 8.86% and from 0.91% - 2.90%, respectively. Stents were used in 6.75% of elective colectomy cases, where they were associated with an absolute reduction of 1.14 percentage points (95% CI: -1.85 to -1.03) in IUI rate and a 21.6 percentage point reduction in the intraoperative detection rate. Additional hospital costs for stenting ranged from $1,464 - $4,436 across surgery types. Additional results varied by case but were consistent with the colectomy example.

Conclusions

While effective in limited settings, the IUI reduction attributed to stenting and ability to shift IUI detection to the intraoperative setting could not offset the hospital cost of stent placement during colectomy (and colorectal surgery, in general). There thus remains an ongoing need in colorectal surgery for a universal, cost-effective solution to prevent IUI.

Ureteral Complications during Surgery

Historically, ureteral complications during surgery have been occurring since the earliest performances of major abdominal or pelvic surgery. In the early 1960s, few diagnostic techniques were available to diagnose ureteral injury and determine the subsequent timely treatment required. Illustrations from two different time periods of possible operative ureteral injury, ligation, or transection following major complicated surgical procedures are presented, along with the diagnostic and therapeutic approach currently followed. The first individual had apparently sustained a ureteral injury during a prior surgical procedure, which, with limited diagnostic options, was not recognized until she visited us years later—as was the case for many early ureteral injuries. Major abdominal or pelvic surgery may be extensive and complicated, especially when dense fibrosis, scarring, and benign or malignant mass formation are present. Unfortunately, surgical complications, including bleeding and ureteral concerns, may develop during these extensive procedures. A more recent patient underwent major, life-threatening retroperitoneal surgery due to a chronic aortoenteric fistula (17 months total preoperative hospitalization elsewhere), during which the left ureter was transected. In our second patient, recognition and correction of the ureteral transection during the aortic surgery, upon completion of the aortic repair, prevented a potential major renal complication. The timely diagnosis of the operative ureteral injury and the repair prior to wound closure prevented major postoperative complications. As some physicians believe that surgically induced ureteral injuries are increasing in frequency, we present this report to enhance awareness of the possibility of injury and the potential value of recognition prior to abdominal closure. In addition, current operative and postoperative strategies available to identify and reduce potential ureteral injury complications when they occur are discussed.

Chronic urine ascites secondary to proximal migrating of double-J ureteral stent into peritoneal cavity: A case report

Implanting of a prophylactic double J stent during ureteroneocystostomy has been adopted as routine procedure for preventing anastomotic complications. In extremely rare events, the coiled distal end of the stent migrates upward through ureterovesical anastomosis into the peritoneal cavity. We report below a case that presented with chronic urinary ascites secondary to ureteral stent displacement which was successfully treated by endoscopic intervention.

Solitary kidney functional damage due to caesarean ureteric injury monitored for 2 years after acute management: A case report

Caesarean section with associated ureteric injuries that damage kidney function is uncommon. Such injury in women with a solitary kidney has far-reaching effects if the diagnosis is delayed. The case report describes the successful acute management with stenting of ureteric damage after caesarean section in a woman with a solitary kidney.

A 29-year-old woman presented with anuria, hypertension (174/101 mmHg) and flank pain 3 days after caesarean section. Physical examination was significant for peri-orbital oedema, left flank tenderness, pallor and delirium. A diagnosis of acute kidney injury was confirmed by elevated blood urea and creatinine levels. An ultrasound scan revealed a solitary hydronephrotic left kidney. She had successful acute management at a resource-deprived facility, with normal renal function at a 2-year follow-up. Proteinuria lasted for about three months after surgery.

Recovery of solitary kidney function with acute kidney injury due to caesarean section ureteric injury may be associated with prolonged proteinuria without evidence of further functional deterioration.

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Caesarean ureteric obstruction is rare but consequential.

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Over 70% are diagnosed late with varied effects on the kidneys.

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Single kidney damage in a bilateral renal system may be compensated.

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Solitary kidney damage is a live threatening obstetric complication.

Difficulties in Diagnosing Extraperitoneal Ureteroinguinal Hernias: A Review of the Literature and Clinical Experience of a Rare Encounter in Acute Surgical Care Settings

Although inguinal hernia repair is one of the most common surgical procedures, finding a retroperitoneal structure, such as the ureter, is a rather rare occurrence. Ureteroinguinal hernias may arise in the presence or absence of obstructive uropathy, the latter raising difficulties in diagnosis for the general surgeon performing a regular inguinal hernia surgery. This study aims to collect the relevant literature describing the diagnosis and management of ureteroinguinal hernias and update it with a case encountered in our clinic. The following study was reported following the SCARE guidelines. The relevant literature describes less than 150 cases of ureteroinguinal hernias overall, considering the 1.7% prevalence of inguinal hernias in the general population. With only 20% of these hernias being described as extraperitoneal, such an encounter becomes an extremely rare finding. Our clinical experience brings a case of a 75-year-old male with frequent urinary tract infections and a large irreducible inguinoscrotal hernia of about 20/12 cm located at the right scrotum. The patient underwent an open inguinal hernia repair technique under general anesthesia, incidentally finding an extraperitoneal ureteral herniation. Segmental ureterectomy was performed with uneventful recovery. Intraoperatively, finding an incidental ureteroinguinal hernia raises concerns about probable urinary tract complications during regular hernia repair surgery and whether the diagnosis is likely to happen prior to surgical intervention. Although imaging is rarely indicated in inguinal hernias, the case reports show that a pelvic CT scan with urography in symptomatic patients with urinary symptoms will provide accurate confirmation of the diagnosis. The relevant literature is limited due to the rarity of respective cases, thus making standardized management of such cases unlikely.

OUP accepted manuscript

We present the endoscopic management of two cases of complete ureteric occlusion at vesico-ureteral junction (VUJ) level following iatrogenic injury. Case 1 is a 60-year-old man who developed bilateral ureteric injury at the level of the VUJ following robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) for Gleason 3 + 4 = 7 T2bN0 prostate cancer. Case 2 is an 81-year-old man with history of recurrent G2pTa transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder originally diagnosed in 2005 and history of radical radiotherapy for prostate cancer. At his most recent transurethral resection of bladder tumour, the left ureteric orifice was not visualized. We describe step-by-step our technique in restoring continuity of the ureter with minimally invasive endoscopic approach, resulting in excellent long-term upper tract drainage for our patients. To our knowledge, combined utilization of a Collins knife to incise the area around the ureteric orifice to unearth them is not reported. We aim to report our technique and its outcomes.

Risk Factors for Urologic Injury in Women Undergoing Hysterectomy for Benign Indication

OBJECTIVE

To investigate risk factors associated with urologic injury in women undergoing hysterectomy for benign indication.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study for the period of 2011-2018 was conducted using the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database. Women without urologic injury were compared with women with injury. A pre-specified multivariable logistic regression model, controlling for key patient demographic factors and intraoperative variables, was used to assess for surgical factors associated with urologic injury.

RESULTS

Among 262 117 women who underwent hysterectomy for benign indication, 1539 (0.6%) sustained urologic injury. On average, patients with urologic injury were younger, had lower body mass index (BMI), and more frequently underwent a transabdominal surgical approach. Patients who underwent total hysterectomy had increased odds of urologic injury than those who underwent subtotal hysterectomy (adjusted OR [aOR] 1.49; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.21-1.84). Patients with class III obesity had lower odds of injury than patients with normal BMI (aOR 0.64; 95% CI 0.51-0.80). For risk of urologic injury, an interaction was observed between surgical approach and surgical indication. Abdominal compared with laparoscopic approach was associated with urologic injury for women with endometriosis (aOR 2.98; 95% CI 1.99-4.47), pelvic pain (aOR 3.51; 95% CI 1.74-7.08), menstrual disorders (aOR 4.33; 95% CI 1.68-11.1), and fibroids (aOR 2.28; 95% CI 1.72-3.03). Vaginal compared with laparoscopic approach was associated with increased odds of injury for women with menstrual disorders (aOR 7.62; 95% CI 1.37-42.5).

CONCLUSION

While the risk of urologic injury during hysterectomy for benign indication is low, the risk is dependent on patient disease factors and surgical approach.

A Review on the Etiology, Prevention, and Management of Ureteral Injuries During Obstetric and Gynecologic Surgeries

Iatrogenic ureteral injuries are a rare but serious complication of some gynecological and obstetric procedures with both high morbidity and legal implications. The incidence varies widely depending on the type and extent of the surgeries with about 70% unrecognized intraoperatively. When recognized intraoperatively and promptly managed, the prognosis is good. Ureteral injuries recognized postoperatively come with dire consequences for the patients and are litigation prone. Due to the proximity of the lower half of the ureters to the pelvic organs, 50% of the cases of injuries to the ureter occur within the jurisdiction of gynecological and obstetric practice. A good knowledge of the etiology, predisposing factors, appropriate surgical skills, proper identification of the course and deviation of the ureters, and intraoperative recognition of inadvertent damage to the ureter and its vasculature is required by all obstetricians and gynecologists to reduce the incidence of ureteral injuries by at least 50%. This review aims to add to what is already known, particularly among obstetricians and gynecologists practicing in resource-constrained settings.

Application of Nonvascular Interventional Radiology Procedures in the Treatment of Iatrogenic Ureteral Injuries

Introduction. He most common ureteral injuries are iatrogenic injuries. Diagnosis of ureteral lesions includes ultrasound, computer tomography, intravenous urography, anterograde and retrograde ureterography. For a definitive diagnosis it is necessary to determine the existence of the extralumination of contrast media from the ureter. Minor ureteral injuries can be treated with nonvascular interventional radiology procedures.

Case presentation. We have presented two patients with iatrogenic ureteral injuries. Injury in the first patient occurred at the sigmoid colon resection and partial resection of the bladder, whereas in the second patient the lesion was formed as a result of cesarean section. In both patients, there was a history of previously conducted interventions, clinical picture included fever and pain, a diagnosis was made by intravenous and anterograde urography. Patients were treated with interventional radiology procedures and they have been definitely cured.

Conclusion. Methods of nonvascular interventional radiology can be successfully applied in the treatment of minor iatrogenic ureteral injuries.

Iatrogenic Ureteral Injuries Associated with Gynecological and Surgical Procedures: Our Experience About 18 Cases and Literature Review

Aim

To describe the epidemiological aspects, etiology and outcome of iatrogenic ureteral injury repair at the urology division of Souro Teaching Hospital of Bobo Dioulasso (Burkina-Faso).

Patients and Methods

This was a retrospective descriptive study of consecutive patients with iatrogenic ureteric injuries who were referred and managed in the urology division of Souro Sanou Teaching Hospital (Bobo-Dioulasso) from January 2012 to December 2017. Variables studied were age, the time at the diagnosis, the causative event, the method of repair, and the outcome of the management.

Results

The mean age was 37.72±3.5 years coming from the rural population in most cases. The mean time at the diagnosis was 15 days. The injuries were due to gynecologic surgeries with hysterectomy (66%) and caesarian section (33%). Ureteric reimplantation with anti-reflux system was performed in seventeen patients. The rate of treatment success was 94% and the postoperative course was uneventful for all the patients.

Conclusion

Iatrogenic ureteric lesions at the department of urology of Sanou Sourou teaching hospital of Bobo Dioulasso were mainly caused by gynecologic and obstetric surgeries like hysterectomy and caesarian section.

Intravenous urography findings in women with ureteric fistula

Introduction

Ureteric fistula is one of the major morbidities that can arise from pelvic surgeries. It mainly results from gynaecological and obstetric procedures. Intravenous urography is an imaging modality for the upper urinary tract. Its features may be suggestive of ureteric fistula and it is of great value when medicolegal issues arise. It is however expensive and requires expertise. There are other useful and cheap methods for evaluating ureteric fistula including the use of dye test. There is need to determine if IVU (Intravenous urography) should be recommended for women with this disease. The aim of this study was to determine the features of intravenous urography among women with ureteric fistula and therefore determine its relevance in the management of such patients.

Methods

This was a retrospective study conducted at the National Obstetric Fistula Centre, Abakaliki between January 2012 and March 2017. All patients with ureteric fistula during the study period who were assessed with intravenous urography before surgery were included in this study.

Results

The mean age was 38 ± 16 years. Twelve (92.3%) were Christians. IVU showed hydroureters in 46.15% hydronephrosis in 53.85%, non-functioning kidney in 46.15% and ureteric stricture in 7.69%. IVU gave an insight into the side with ureteric fistula except in one who had normal result.

Conclusion

Hydronephrosis, hydroureters and silent (non-functioning) kidneys are features of IVU in women with ureteric fistulas, however these features are not pathognomonic for the disease.

Pattern of Ureteric Pathology Presenting to a Fistula Centre in Western Kenya

Background

Ureteric pathology arises from surgical misadventures, trauma, and congenital anomalies. Early detection and treatment is of the essence.

Objectives

To determine the types/etiology and outcome of ureteric pathology presenting to Gynocare Fistula Centre, Eldoret, Kenya.

Methods

Descriptive retrospective study that evaluated patients presenting with ureteric pathology at Gynocare between 1st January 2012 and 31st December 2016. We pulled out patient charts and extracted and analyzed relevant data using STATA 13E statistical software.

Results

We analyzed 33 charts, and their age ranged from 10 to 58 years. Annual proportion for 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2016 was 2.5%, 2.8%, 1.2%, 1.4%, and 3.0% respectively among all the fistula patients treated in the hospital. All the patients presented with urinary incontinence, and 7 (21.2%) had flank pain. Iatrogenic injuries contributed 84.8% (28), and 3 (9.1%) were congenital while trauma and infection had 1 each. Of those resulting from surgical misadventures, 17 (60.7%) were from obstetric while 11 (39.2%) were from gynecological surgery. All the injuries were in the distal third of the ureter; 5 were bilateral; and 11 were left sided while 17 were right-sided. Repair and/or reimplantation was successful in 31 (93.93%) of the patients.

Conclusion

Highest proportion of ureteric pathologies was accounted for by iatrogenic causes and surgical repair and/or reimplantation has a high success rate.

[Endoscopic management of postoperative ureteral wound. Retrospective unicentric study from October 2003 to June 2014]

BACKGROUND

Ureteral wounds are rare with an incidence of 0.5 to 1% of pelvic surgeries. Their supports and their prognosis remain dependant of the period of support and the level of ureteral lesion. The importance of early treatment reduces morbidity and improves patient prognosis.

METHODS

A retrospective study from October 2003 to June 2014 was performed in a university hospital using a systematic chart review of patients' urology, digestive surgery, vascular surgery and gynecology.

RESULTS

Forty-six wounds were found in 43 patients. The majority of the ureteral wound was found at the pelvic ureter, i.e. 69.6% of the study population (n=32). The main cause was gynecological surgery (n=25). In the simple wound group, endoscopic treatment was effective in nearly 90% of cases (n=6). In the other two groups, the efficacy was only 30% and imposed a surgical treatment as second-line.

CONCLUSION

The management is based primarily on early detection or intraoperative, and on a correct initial knowledge of the location and size of the lesion. Endoscopic treatment can in most cases treated with a simple and minimally invasive operation an ureteral wound with nearly 90% success rate. In more complex wounds, endoscopy remains a step in the management with about 30% success rate in our study.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

5.