Surgical injury to ureter

The incidence of surgical injury to the ureter varies from as low as 0.5% to as high as 30%. By being aware of various pitfalls in prevention, recognition, and treatment, the operating surgeon may perhaps minimize the incidence of surgical injuries to the ureter or their sequelae. The authors' experience with twenty-four surgical ureteral injuries is discussed and 5 cases are reported. In spite of a thorough knowledge of embryology, anatomy, and pathology predisposing to ureteral involvement, the possibility of ureteral injury must always be kept in mind.