Surgical management of idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis

The management of 10 patients with idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis causing obstructive uropathy is presented. In all cases the obstruction was relieved by ureterolysis and corticosteroid therapy was not used during the initial treatment. In 9 patients the operation was well tolerated but one, who developed a pyonephrosis after pre-operative ureteric drainage, died of septiceamia 15 days post-operatively. In 2 patients further explorations and ureterolysis were necessary for recurrent fibrosis which may have been related to urinary leakage. A policy for the management of these cases is presented which recommends the use of silastic tubing splints after ureteric mobilisation and the use of an omental wrap.