Transureteroureterostomy in childhood and adolescence: long-term results in 69 cases

We analyzed a series of 69 transureteroureterostomies to evaluate long-term results and specify current indications.

Between 1969 and 1998 transureteroureterostomy was performed in 32 females and 37 males with a mean age of 8.6 years. Surgery was done to avoid repeat or difficult ureteral reimplantation after multiple failed procedures in 22 cases and to create a continent ureteral conduit for intermittent catheterization in 23. Other indications included undiversion in 8 cases, ureterocystoplasty in 6, diversion in 4, the Kropp procedure in 3, massively dilated megaureter in 2 and ureteral necrosis in 1. Of the 69 patients 6 were lost to followup and 63 were followed at least 1 year (median 6).

A total of 63 patients were regularly monitored by clinical observation and morphological investigation, including ultrasound, excretory urography and cystography. In 50 cases (79.4%) results were good with no upper urinary tract dilatation. All initially normal donor ureters remained normal. Of 51 initially dilated donor ureters 40 (78.4%) improved or returned to normal, while 20 of 27 initially dilated recipient ureters (74.1%) improved or returned to normal. Serious complications in 3 cases (4.3%) involved anastomotic leakage, ischemic stenosis of the common ureteral trunk and progressive deterioration of function in 1 kidney requiring nephrectomy 3 years postoperatively. Reoperation was successful in the former 2 cases.

With careful attention to technique transureteroureterostomy represents a safe and reliable procedure with well-defined indications in pediatric urology.