Percutaneous incision of stenotic uroenteric anastomoses with a cutting balloon catheter: long-term results

To describe the technique and results of incision of strictures in anastomotic urinary diversions with a commercially available cutting balloon catheter.

Thirty-seven stenoses were treated in 32 patients. Most (28 [88%]) of the patients had undergone surgery for bladder cancer 17.7 months +/- 17.4 (SD) (range, 3-72 months) before incision. Thirteen patients had undergone ileal conduit diversion, and nineteen had undergone enterocystoplasty. All stenoses were shorter than 3 cm. The presence of adjacent ileal loops and/or iliac vessels was assessed with computed tomography before incision. The cutting wire was oriented anteriorly or anterolaterally, and the balloon was inflated with diluted contrast material during the incision. A Kaplan-Meier survival curve was constructed to illustrate the success rates over time.

No major complications occurred. Twelve (32%) stenoses recurred in nine patients 15 months +/- 10 (range, 6-36 months) after stent removal; the failure rate was 53% (eight of 15 stenoses) for ileal conduits and 18% (four of 22 stenoses) for enterocystoplasties. Late failure (>12 months) was observed in four patients. The patency of the other 25 stenoses (23 patients) was checked 25 months +/- 11 after stent removal (range, 5-43 months). The actuarial patency rate was 77% at 1 year, 68% at 2 years, and 62% at 3 years.

Cutting balloon incision is a safe and simple alternative to surgery, particularly when the urinary diversion is enterocystoplasty.