Laparoscopic management of retrocaval ureter: case report and literature review

Retrocaval ureter is a rare congenital anomaly with an incidence of approx. 1/1000 live births. Recently, the laparoscopic approach has become the gold standard for treatment, relegating open surgery as a second option.

We present the case of a 27-year-old male with a 2-year history of colicky pain in the right flank radiating to the ipsilateral thigh and genital region. The patient was initially treated with a right double-pigtail catheter stent due to obstructive uropathy as evidenced by ultrasound. He underwent laparoscopic ureteral anteposition with a successful outcome and has remained asymptomatic during a 12-month follow-up.

Retrocaval ureter is a rare entity that requires a high grade of suspicion for initial diagnosis to provide adequate and opportune treatment that will have repercussions on kidney function and quality of life for the patient. Open surgery has traditionally been the treatment of choice; however, in recent decades laparoscopic surgery has been practiced more during this era of minimally invasive therapy, without yet displacing open surgery in our country.