Management of the short ureter in urinary tract reconstruction

Among our 56 patients who have undergone urinary tract reconstruction with intact bladders 45 have required some compensation for lost ureteral length. Of these patients 33 had only distal ureteral loss and underwent reconstruction with a combination of a psoas hitch, transureteroureterostomy and primary reimplantation. Four patients with more extensive ureteral loss underwent a Boari flap procedure, and of the 8 patients with major ureteral loss 6 had small bowel interposition and 2 have had renal autotransplantation to compensate for lost ureteral length. All patients are well with stable renal function at 1 to 7-year followup.