The use of small intestinal segments to replace diseased bilharzial ureters--a prospective study

Five male patients mean age 31.8 years with lower ureteric obstruction from urinary tract schistosomiasis have been treated by bilateral uretero-ileocystoplasty. All the 5 patients had bilateral hydroureters and hydronephrosts and 3 had reversible chronic renal failure whilst one patient presented with anuria and acute renal failure. Fibrosis of lower 1/4th to 1/3rd of the Ureters was present in the 5 patients. Four patients survived the operation for a mean of 3.4 years (range 1-7 years). The post-operative complications were hypernatraemic hyperchloraemic metabolic acidosis in 3 and incisional hernia in one. There was one death from septicaemia complicating infected bilateral nephrostomies performed before ureteroileocystoplasty. Ureteroileocystoplasty is recommended for replacement of damaged ureters where the extent of the damage precludes ureteroneocystostomy or where previous ureteroneocystostomy has failed.