[Endoscopic trigonoplasty II for primary vesico-ureteral reflux].

PURPOSE: We report a technique and outcome of endoscopic trigonoplasty II (ET II), anti-reflux surgery via a transvesicostomy transurethral approach and discuss its usefulness. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifteen female patients, aged 5 to 64, with 23 refluxing ureters (grade I : 5, II : 2, III : 14, IV : 2) underwent the ET II. The principle of this surgery is tightening the muscular backing and elongating the intramural ureter. The operation consists of three steps: 1) two 5 mm locking trocars are placed into the bladder, 2) irrigating with 3% D-sorbitol solution, the bladder wall is incised upward along each side of the ureter using a resectoscope, to make a 2 to 3 cm U-shaped bladder flap including the ureter, 3) under a pneumobladder, the incised wall is sutured to make a muscular bed with a needle-holder via the urethra and forceps via the abdominal trocar. The U-shaped flap is fixed with two distal anchor sutures and four additional mucosal sutures. Urethral catheter is indwelled and the operation is finished. In recent four cases, we closed the tracts endoscopically. RESULTS: The average operative time was 144 minutes per ureter. In one patient with unilateral reflux, we switched to open surgery because of bleeding. Of 22 refluxing ureters, the reflux disappeared in 18 ureters (82%) and improved grade III to I in 1 ureter (5%) after 3 months and disappeared in 19 ureters (86%) after 12 months postoperatively. Ureteral injury was occurred in 3 patients during the transurethral incision of the bladder. Though we repaired it by placing a double-J stent in the 2 patients, reflux recurred in 12 months postoperatively in one of them. In the other patient cystoscopy revealed a vesicoureteral fistula in the injured portion. She subsequently underwent successful open Politano-Leadbetter ureteroneocystostomy. The average duration of indwelling catheter was shortened from 4.3 to 3.0 days by closing the tracts endoscopically. CONCLUSIONS: The overall cessation rate of the ET II was inferior to those of open anti-reflux surgeries or laparoscopic extravesical ureteral reimplantation. We do not recommend ET II for vesicoureteral reflux.

Long-term results of endopyeloureterotomy using the transpelvic extraureteral approach.

OBJECTIVES: To review our clinical results to confirm the long-term efficacy of the operative technique of endopyeloureterotomy using the transpelvic extraureteral approach that we developed. METHODS: We treated 123 patients with ureteropelvic junction obstruction or upper ureteral stenosis by percutaneous endopyeloureterotomy using the transpelvic extraureteral approach between 1988 and 1999. All were followed up for at least 1 year (mean 58 months). Sixty-eight patients were male and 55 female between the ages of 3 and 78 years (mean 36). We evaluated the efficacy of our procedure preoperatively and then regularly every 6 to 12 months postoperatively using excretory urography and technetium-99m DTPA renography. RESULTS: Our results showed that 115 (90.6%) of 127 procedures relieved the obstruction without any severe complications. In the 107 cases of ureteropelvic junction obstruction, we alleviated the stricture in 96 (90%). In the 20 cases of upper ureteral stenosis, our procedure alleviated the stricture in 19 (95%). In the 47 cases of a stenotic segment of 2 cm or more in length, 43 of our procedures led to a significant improvement (91.5%). Long-term follow-up of the 123 patients revealed late recurrence in 5 patients, despite the initial success. CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous endopyeloureterotomy using the transpelvic extraureteral approach should be considered the first choice of treatment for ureteropelvic junction obstruction and upper third ureteral stenosis, even if the stenotic segment is 2 or more cm long.