Upper Ureter (upper + ureter)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Safety of supracostal punctures for percutaneous renal surgery

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF UROLOGY, Issue 10 2006
RAJIV YADAV
Aim: Supracostal superior calyceal access has been shown to be the most suitable approach for staghorn calculi, calculi in the upper ureter and complex inferior calyceal calculi, as well as for antegrade endopyelotomy. However, many urologists hesitate in using this approach because of the potential for chest complications. The aim of this study was to analyze one institution's data regarding the safety and efficacy of this approach for percutaneous renal surgery. Methods: A total of 890 renal units (762 patients) were treated with percutaneous renal surgery (849 percutaneous nephrolithotomy, 41 antegrade endopyelotomy) from July 1998 to July 2004. Supracostal access was obtained in 332 (37.3%) patients. The indications for a supracostal approach were ureteropelvic junction obstruction, staghorn and complex inferior calyceal calculi, and stones in the upper calyx or the upper ureter. All punctures were made by the urologist under C-arm fluoroscopic guidance in the prone position. Results: The interspace between 11th and 12th rib was used in all except four patients in whom the puncture was made above the 11th rib. Eleven patients (3.31%) had a pleural breach presenting with fluid in the chest. Insertion of a chest tube was required in seven patients, while other four were managed conservatively. No patient had injury to the lung or other viscera. Hospital stay was not significantly prolonged as a result of the pleural breach in any patient. Except for staghorn calculi where multiple tracts were a necessity for maximal clearance, a single supracostal superior or middle posterior calyceal access served the purpose in 86% (177/205) of patients who underwent percutaneous surgery for renal or upper ureteric calculi. Conclusions: The supracostal superior calyceal approach was found to be effective as well as safe, with an acceptably low risk of chest complications. [source]


Primary ureteroscopic treatment for obstructive ureteral stone-causing fornix rupture

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF UROLOGY, Issue 12 2004
PANAGIOTIS KALAFATIS
Abstract, Background:, Management of fornix rupture (FR) by obstructive stone is comprised of extravasation control and the elimination of the obstruction. For all patients, management initially remains conservative under close follow up. Endoscopic management of FR involved with an obstructive stone of the ureter or the pelvi-ureteric junction (UPJ) consists mainly of stenting the ureter. Our endoscopic approach to this pathological entity comprises of the sole stenting of the ureter, as well as primary ureteroscopic lithotripsy followed by ureter stenting. Patients and methods:, In the Department of Urology at the General Hospital of Rhodos Island, Rhodos, Greece, over the last 15 years, 51 of 86 patients with FR due to an obstructive stone, were treated endoscopically. Twenty-two patients underwent sole stenting of the ureter (option A) and 29 patients underwent primary ureteroscopic lithotripsy and stenting (option B). Results:, The overall primary ,successful outcome' was achieved in nine of the 22 patients (40.9%) in the group treated with sole stenting, while the remaining 59.1% required secondary interventions. However, 27 of the 29 patients (93.1%) treated with primary ureteroscopic lithotripsy and stenting required no auxiliary treatment. The primary successful outcome results for obstructive middle and lower ureteral stones with FR were eight out of 12 (66.6%) and 26 out of 27 (96.3%) for therapeutic options A and B, respectively. Upper obstructive ureteral stones with FR required secondary intervention in most cases, regardless of the therapeutic option chosen. (In nine out of 10 and one out of two cases for options A and B, respectively). The mean duration of hospitalization for options A and B were 7.6 and 5.3 days, respectively. The mean duration that the ureter stent remained in situ for A and B treatment options was 30.9 and 10.2 days, respectively. Conclusions:, Sole stenting of the ureter is reserved for infected FR or for stones of the upper ureter or the UPJ. Ureteroscopic lithotripsy followed by double-J stenting of the ureter may offer a quick and safe therapeutic alternative for distal and middle obstructive ureteral stones with FR. [source]


Ureteric stents compromise stone clearance after shockwave lithotripsy for ureteric stones: results of a matched-pair analysis

BJU INTERNATIONAL, Issue 1 2009
Athanasios N. Argyropoulos
OBJECTIVE To identify the effect of the presence of a ureteric stent on the outcome of extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL), by comparing patients with ureteric stones with matched-pair analysis. PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients undergoing ESWL with the Sonolith Vision lithotripter (Technomed Medical Systems, Vaulx-en-Velin, France) were identified from our prospectively maintained database. Only adult patients with a solitary, radio-opaque, previously untreated ureteric stone were considered for further analysis. A follow-up of ,3 months with a plain abdominal film was used to identify residual fragments. Patients were exactly matched for gender, side, location in the ureter and size (in two dimensions, within ±2 mm). If both diameters could not be matched exactly, the size was extended to ±1 mm and then to ±2 mm of both diameters. An effort was finally made to match patients by age. The treatment outcome in terms of stone-free rates was assessed and compared using McNemar's test. RESULTS In all, 45 patients with a ureteric stent in place during ESWL were identified. The only patient who could not be adequately matched was a 40-year-old man with an 8 × 3 mm stone in the upper ureter. The best/closest match for age was selected. Most stones were in the upper ureter (77%); the mean stone size was 8.5 and 8.6 mm, respectively, with no statistical differences between the groups for age and size of stones (P = 0.41 and 0.86, Student's t -test). In 12 pairs, only patients with no stent were stone-free, compared to two pairs where the patient with a stent was stone-free. Using McNemar's test, the odds ratio was 6.0 (95% confidence interval 1.3,55.2) and the difference between the groups was statistically significant (P = 0.016). CONCLUSION These results show that the presence of a stent is associated with a worse outcome after ESWL for ureteric stones. Ureteric stents should still be used in cases of obstruction, when there is a risk of sepsis, and in patients with intolerable pain or deteriorating renal function. However, their use in patients offered ESWL for ureteric stones should be considered with caution. [source]


Renal autotransplantation for managing a short upper ureter or after ex vivo complex renovascular reconstruction

BJU INTERNATIONAL, Issue 6 2005
J. Christopher Webster
Several topics related to the upper urinary tract are covered this month. Renal autotransplantation for managing a short upper ureter or after ex vivo complex renovascular reconstruction is described by authors from Florida. Percutaneous nephrolithotomy and various technical aspects associated with it are presented by authors from Germany and India. OBJECTIVE To report our contemporary experience with renal autotransplantation (AT), an established treatment for managing patients with a shortened ureter or renovascular disease, as despite its historical importance, AT remains an underused technique by urologists. PATIENTS AND METHODS All patients undergoing AT between 1997 and 2002 for a short ureter after ureteric injury and for renovascular disease were assessed by creatinine level and blood pressure before and after surgery, and antihypertensive drug use and complications. RESULTS Eleven patients had AT for renovascular disease and four for ureteric injury. There was no statistical difference in creatinine levels or blood pressure before and after surgery in either group. Eight patients treated with AT for renovascular disease required less antihypertensive medication after surgery. Minor complications occurred in both groups and included a suture abscess, chronic wound pain, and transient acute tubular necrosis. One patient in the ureteric injury group required a transplant nephrectomy after renal vein thrombosis, and one in the renovascular group died from multi-organ system failure. CONCLUSION AT remains a treatment option for patients with a short ureter after ureteric injury and in those with renovascular disease. Patients had stable renal function and blood pressure after surgery. Most patients treated for renovascular disease required less medication after AT. The procedure is associated with both minor and major complications, which must be considered before surgery. [source]