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Updated: Aug 14, 2026

Vessel-sparing Excision and Primary Anastomosis
Published on: January 7, 2019
Does retrograde balloon dilation compromise outcome of secondary open pyeloplasty: 17 years' experience at a single
1Department of Urology, Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, Aberdeen, Scotland, United Kingdom.
Objectives:
To determine whether the outcome of secondary open pyeloplasty is compromised by previous retrograde balloon dilation.
Methods:
Patients undergoing secondary open pyeloplasty after retrograde balloon dilation (n = 25) were compared with a similar group undergoing primary open pyeloplasty (n = 25) at the same institution. Patients were assessed by renography before and after surgery, and postoperative success was determined by the complete absence of pain.
Results:
In the primary pyeloplasty group, the success rate was 96%, with a mean follow-up of 33 months (range 17 to 53). In the secondary pyeloplasty group, the success rate was 88%, with a mean follow-up of 20 months (range 9 to 32). No statistically significant difference was found in the success rates between the two groups (P = 0.6).
Conclusions:
Treatment failures after retrograde balloon dilation can be salvaged by secondary pyeloplasty with no detriment to the chance of long-term success compared with primary pyeloplasty.
