Ureteral pathology associated with aortic surgery: a report of three unusual cases

Intravenous pyelography is a necessary prerequisite to safe aortic surgery. Although urological complications of aortic pathology have been recognzized for 30 years, visualization of the urinary tract has not necessarily been routine practice in preoperative planning. With increasing frequency of aortic reconstruction, careful preoperative evaluation will continue to lower morbidity and mortality rates. Three unusual cases--one of perigraft ureteral fibrosis causing obstruction, one of ureteral obstruction due to retroperitoneal fibrosis, and one of ureterocutaneous fistula in a patient with an infected aortic prosthesis--are reviewed. These uncommon problems support the contention that information gained from routine excretory urograms will aid in careful preoperative assessment. Furthermore, the intravenous pyelogram will facilitate early recognition of postoperative urological complications.