[Treatment of ureteral stenosis using high pressure dilatation catheters]

High-pressure dilatation catheters have been proposed as an alternative to open surgery in the treatment of ureteric strictures because of the low morbidity and short hospital stay. The objective of this study was to evaluate the results of this technique in patients with inflammatory ureteric strictures or uretero-ileal strictures.

From April 1991 to September 1996, 25 strictures were treated by antegrade or retrograde dilatation with a high-pressure balloon catheter followed by stenting with a double J stent for an average of 2.1 months (1-5): 14 uretero-ileal strictures (tuberculosis, schistosomiasis, iatrogenic, radiotherapy). A good immediate result was defined as intraoperative rupture of the stricture under fluoroscopic control. A good long-term result was defined as absence of recurrence of the stricture, evaluated clinically and radiologically (IVU and/or ultrasonography).

The good immediate result rate was 82% (19 out of 23 strictures, with 2 non-evaluable cases). One intraoperative complication was observed (double J stent advanced too for into the ureter). 22 strictures were evaluable after removal of the double J stent and the good long-term result rate was 64% with a mean follow-up of 8.5 months (0.3-24). 8 patients developed a recurrence: 4 after Bricker, 3 with inflammatory strictures after radiotherapy and J with peritoneal carcinomatosis.

This study shows that high-pressure balloon catheter dilatation of non-neoplastic ureteric strictures provides good results and can be considered to be the first-line treatment for these lesions.