[Retrograde balloon dilatation as a minimally invasive treatment for ureteral stricture]

Ureteral stricture is not a common urologic condition. Balloon dilatation represents one of the least invasive methods for treatment of ureteral strictures. We retrospectively analysed 24 patients with ureteral strictures treated with retrograde balloon dilatation in our department. The etiology of stricture was iatrogenic in 11 (45.8%) patients, post-TBC in one (4.2%), congenital in one (4.2%), retroperitoneal fibrosis in one (4.2%) and unknown in 10 (41.6%) patients. Twelve (50%) patients had a stricture of pelvic, 9 (37.5%) lumbar, and 3 (12.5%) of terminal ureter. In all patients retrograde balloon dilatation has been performed. Only complication related to the procedure was febrility in 4 patients (16.7%). Restrictures were noted in 12 (50%) patients, who consequently have been treated surgically, or had to be stented. Retrograde balloon dilatation, as a safe and relatively effective treatment, is proposed as the first choice in patients with short ureteral strictures.