Ureterovesical reimplantation for ureteral deep infiltrating endometriosis: A retrospective study

Symptoms of endometriosis of the urinary tract consist of nonspecific signs that are often trivialized. However, late diagnosis may be responsible for an upstream impact. The aim of this study is to describe a population of patients who received ureterovesical reimplantation for deep infiltrating endometriosis. We evaluate the preoperative clinical and radiological symptoms and long-term surgical outcomes.

All the endometriotic patients who underwent ureterovesical reimplantation at Lille university hospital between 2003 and 2013 were included retrospectively.

Seventeen patients were included. Urological symptoms of endometriosis were present in 53% of patients and 29% had a history of urological surgery. Delay between diagnosis and ureteral reimplantation was 64±65 months on average. Forty-seven percent of patients had urinary functional symptoms consisting mainly of lower back pain. The ureteral lesion was known preoperatively and associated with hydroureteronephrosis in 82% of cases. Thirty-five percent of patients had renal atrophy and renal function was impaired in 23% of cases. Mean follow-up was 45±27 months. Forty-one percent of patients presented at least one immediate postoperative complication-fistula, postoperative infection or nerve compression. Also, urinary functional symptoms, dyspareunia and dysmenorrhea were maintained in 47%.

Ureterovesical reimplantation in a context of endometriosis is major surgery with frequent complications. It requires close collaboration between gynecologists, radiologists and urologists. Prior comprehensive patient information is essential. Diagnosis and early treatment of ureteral endometriosis lesions should help reduce the morbidity of this disease.