Combined antegrade and retrograde endoscopic retroperitoneal bypass of ureteric strictures: a modification of the 'rendezvous' procedure.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate our experience of treating complicated iatrogenic ureteric strictures with a combined antegrade and retrograde endoscopic retroperitoneal bypass technique, a modification of the so-called 'rendezvous' procedure. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Seven patients presented to our institution between 2004 and 2008 after developing a complicated iatrogenic ureteric stricture, impassable with solitary antegrade or retrograde stenting techniques. In most cases there was a significant loss of ureteric continuity, with some strictures of up to 10-12 cm. After initial temporizing management with a percutaneous nephrostomy, each patient had a radiological 'rendezvous' procedure to insert a JJ stent and restore ureteric continuity. After 6 months, the JJ stents were removed and the patients evaluated by symptom assessment, serial measurements of serum creatinine and diuretic renography (F-15 mercaptoacetyl triglycine). RESULTS: All seven 'rendezvous' procedures were successful and a ureteric stent was inserted across or around the stricture in all cases. Five of seven patients whose follow-up was >6 months had their stent removed successfully. At a median follow-up of 21 months, all patients are alive and none has required subsequent surgery. Six of the seven patients presented with significant symptoms and they are all currently symptom-free, which we consider to be a successful clinical outcome. No patient has developed significant renal impairment (estimated glomerular filtration rate (<30 mL/min) but we could only confirm successful unequivocal renographic drainage in one patient. CONCLUSION: Combining antegrade radiological and retrograde endourological techniques, it is possible to restore ureteric continuity with a JJ stent, even in situations with extensive loss of the ureteric lumen. This reduces the need for morbid open surgical repair and offers a long-term solution to patients who might otherwise be consigned to less favourable conservative measures.

Refractive and reflective image distortion during lower tract endoscopy--a potential cause of misdiagnosis.

Flexible cystoscopy is well established in urological practice. We present a unique image obtained during bladder inspection, illustrating visual refractive distortion, which highlights the potential difficulty in optical interpretation.

Ureteric embolization: an alternative treatment strategy for urinary fistulae complicating advanced pelvic malignancy.

OBJECTIVE: To report experience with a minimally invasive technique for palliation of urinary fistula/incontinence complicating advanced pelvic malignancy or its treatment. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We used ureteric embolization with permanent nephrostomy drainage in eight renal units in five patients for palliation of symptoms. All procedures were done under local anaesthesia as day-case procedures. Nephrostomy tubes were changed at regular intervals on an outpatient basis. Embolization was repeated when required. RESULTS: The follow-up was 2-84 months; four patients died from the underlying malignancy during the follow-up. All patients were continent and had effective palliation of their symptoms. Two patients required repeat embolization. There were no embolization-related complications. CONCLUSIONS: Ureteric embolization is a safe and effective minimally invasive palliative treatment option in urinary fistulae or incontinence complicating advanced pelvic malignancy.

Long-term 5-year followup of the results of the vesica procedure.

PURPOSE: We evaluated the long-term results of Vesica (Boston Scientific Corp., Watertown, Massachusetts) percutaneous bladder neck suspension for stress urinary incontinence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 40 women with urodynamically proven stress urinary incontinence (SUI) underwent Vesica percutaneous bladder neck suspension between 1994 and 1997. Patients were assessed at 6 months, 12 months and 5 years with a simple questionnaire to elicit whether they had experienced any adverse effects, whether they were dry and whether further investigation or a surgical incontinence procedure was offered. RESULTS: Only 1 of the 40 women was lost to long-term followup. Initial results were excellent with 85% of women reporting complete dryness at 6 months. However, wound infections developed in 16% of patients secondary to hematomas in the suprapubic incisions and 10% required a period of intermittent self-catheterization. By 12 months only 46% of women remained dry, although most only reported occasional leakage. At 5 years 69% of patients had recurrent SUI and more than two-thirds of this group (70%) had symptoms severe enough to be offered a further surgical procedure. Patients undergoing subsequent secondary procedures were found to have fraying of the suspensory sutures at the bone anchor. CONCLUSIONS: Initial results of this minimally invasive procedure were excellent and despite the lack of long-term data the technique rapidly came into widespread use. The 5-year outcome shows a 31% continence rate. We no longer advocate this particular form of bladder neck suspension for SUI.