Prolonged urinary retention can and does occur after any type of ureteral reimplantantion

Transient urinary retention has been recognized as a complication of bilateral ureteroneocystostomy (UNC), when performed extravesically. The objective of this study was to review a collective surgeons' experiences of unilateral extra- and unilateral and/or bilateral intra-vesical ureteral reimplanation, where urinary retention greater than 6 weeks, or what we have termed, "prolonged urinary retention" (PUR), occurred.

We retrospectively reviewed charts to identify PUR after any open or robotic reimplant, other than bilateral extravesical, between 1998 and 2015 as reported by five surgeons.

During the review period, ten cases were documented where PUR was encountered. Bilateral Cohen reimplants (5), unilateral extravesical open reimplant with ureteral tapering (3), unilateral Cohen reimplant (1) and unilateral extravesical robotic reimplant with tapering (1) were associated with PUR. Younger males predominated (70%). The mean age at operation of the patients was 3.1 years. Eventually 7/10 patients were able to void normally, with periods ranging from 6 weeks to 8 years. The remaining three patients are still unable to void more than 5 years after UNC. A majority of the samples (6/10) were suspected to have bowel and bladder dysfunction (BBD), but neurologically all were normal.

PUR can occur as a potential complication following any type of UNC and is associated with the risk of significant morbidity, including permanent urinary retention. Patients and caregivers should be counseled accordingly.