Use of balloon catheters for ureteral occlusion in urinary leakage

Urinary fistula after treatment for cancer constitutes a therapeutic dilemma, especially in patients who have had various other treatments. We report on 7 patients with urinary leakage, treated conservatively with ureteric occlusion by way of percutaneous transrenal balloon catheters.

The indication for ureteral occlusion was persisting urinary leakage despite diversion by nephrostomy and drainage with atransurethral catheter. All patients had had previous treatment because of pelvic malignancy. Small Foley balloon catheters and angioplasty catheters were used. These devices were inserted percutaneously in an antegrade fashion.

In all but 2 of the patients the leakage ceased with the aid of these devices. Insufficient ureteral occlusion necessitated unilateral uretero-cutaneostomy in 1 patient. In another patient a vesico vaginal fistula was closed surgically. The maximum duration of occlusion was 169 (mean 94, range 45-169) days, without any evidence of ureteric pressure necrosis. Despite good overall results many adjustments and replacements of catheters were necessary because of recurrent urinary leakage caused by inadequate obstruction and/or leakage of the occluding catheters.

We conclude that long-term ureteral occlusion with percutaneous transrenal balloon catheters appears to be safe and does not result in pressure necrosis. Using this approach, urinary fistula can heal in some patients without the need for open surgery.