Experience with endoscopic incision and open unroofing of ureteroceles

Endoscopic incision or open unroofing of a ureterocele was performed in 40 children between 1 day and 15 years old. Of these patients 20 showed such improvement in function of the primarily obstructed segment that subsequent nephroureterectomy was not deemed necessary. Only 2 of these 20 patients required later reconstructive, nonextirpative surgery because of recurrent urinary tract infection. The other 20 patients underwent elective heminephroureterectomy with ureterocelectomy and lower ureteral reimplantation sometime after they were 18 months old, except for 4 children who required earlier intervention because of recurrent urinary tract infection.