[Transverse transcolonic cutaneous ureterostomy after pelvic irradiation]

The late urological sequelae of pelvic radiotherapy for cancer sometimes require cutaneous urinary diversion. The local conditions often exclude the use of direct or transileal ureterostomy. Three cases of cutaneous ureterostomy using the transverse colon are presented. There was no operative mortality. A single ureterocolonic stenosis was observed at 12 months and was treated endoscopically. The choice of the transverse colon was based on its position away from the field of irradiation and, consequently, teh absence of radiation lesions, its blood supply which can be used to form pedicles and the possibility of resecting irradiated ureteric segments allowing anastomoses with the proximal ureters. The results reported in the literature show an operative mortality of 0 to 4% and a low morbidity. This technique can be considered to be a technique of choice for cutaneous urinary diversions in urological complications of pelvic radiotherapy.