Transvesicoscopic ureteral reimplantation: Politano-Leadbetter versus Cohen technique

To compare the outcomes of the Politano-Leadbetter and Cohen techniques in laparoscopic pneumovesicum approach for ureteral reimplantation.

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 24 patients who underwent transvesicoscopic ureteral reimplantation during the period from 2007 to 2014. The patients were treated with either the Cohen or Politano-Leadbetter technique. Operative duration, duration of hospital stay, and success and complication rates were compared.

Operative duration was 1 h longer for the Politano-Leadbetter technique than for the Cohen technique (P < 0.05). Foley catheters were removed 2-3 days after the procedures. The mean hospital stay was 3.6 days. Reflux completely resolved in 21 patients (35 ureters, 94.6%), but not in two patients (2 ureters). There was no difference in the success rate or durations of catheterization or hospital stay between patients treated with the Politano-Leadbetter technique and those treated with the Cohen technique.

The Politano-Leadbetter and Cohen techniques are both reliable for transvesicoscopic ureteral reimplantation. Despite a longer operative time, because of the higher surgical complexity, the Politano-Leadbetter ureteral reimplantation offers important physiological advantages over other techniques.