The endoscopic correction of reflux by polytetrafluoroethylene injection

Endoscopic subureteral injection of polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon) was done in 38 patients (55 ureters) to correct vesicoureteral reflux. Followup excretory urograms and nuclear cystograms were available in 28 patients (40 ureters) 2 to 11 months after injection. Nearly 50 per cent of the patients had a neurogenic bladder. Injection was done for all grades of reflux, although the majority of cases had at least grade III reflux. After injection reflux either was eliminated or decreased in 76 per cent of the patients with neurogenic disease and in 87 per cent of those with a normally innervated bladder. This outpatient procedure is simple and brief to perform, and it is associated with minimal morbidity. As with any new antireflux technique longer followup is indicated.