Endourologic management of malignant ureteral strictures

PURPOSE: This retrospective analysis assessed the efficacy of balloon dilatation, endoureterotomy, percutaneous ureteroneocystostomy with stenting, and insertion of Wallstents in the management of malignant ureteral strictures with an intact or compromised vascular supply. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A series of 127 patients with ureteral strictures secondary to malignancies were assessed after at least 2-year follow-up (range 2-5 years; mean 3.5 years). Balloon dilation (antegrade approach) was applied in 46 patients, endoureterotomy with temporary stenting in 37, percutaneous ureteroneocystostomy with stenting in 34, bougie and stents in 13, and Wallstents in 31. RESULTS: Balloon dilatation was successful in only two of four malignant midureteral stenoses with intact vascular supplies and was even less successful (10%) in midureteral strictures with a compromised vascular supply. Endoureterotomy failed in all cases to prevent ureteral obstruction. Percutaneous ureteroneocystostomy achieved patency in 11 of 34 patients (33%) having a compromised ureteral vascular supply. Wallstents were successful in 18 of 31 patients (58%) with stenoses of the pelvic ureter. CONCLUSIONS: Percutaneous ureteroneocystostomy with stenting meets the requirement for palliation in patients with obstruction secondary to pelvic neoplasms. Wallstents proved to be most successful when used in the pelvic ureter.     

Treatment of iatrogenic postoperative ureteral strictures with Acucise endoureterotomy

OBJECTIVES: To determine factors influencing the outcome of Acucise endoureterotomy in patients with iatrogenic postoperative ureteral strictures after different open surgical procedures. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Acucise endoureterotomy was performed in 18 patients with ureteral strictures after pyeloplasty (n = 5), renal transplantation (n = 5), ureteroenteric anastomosis (n = 3), calicoureterostomy (n = 1), ureterocystoneostomy (n = 1), hysterectomy (n = 1), ureterorenoscopy (n = 1) and transurethral resection of the ureteral orifice (n = 1). Success was determined as relief of clinical symptoms, improvement of renal function or improvement of radiographic findings. RESULTS: The overall success rate was 61% (mean follow-up: 21.5 months). Six out of 18 patients showed relevant side effects. Neither the localization of the stricture nor the duration of postoperative ureteral stenting but the length of the stricture had influence on the postoperative outcome. Decreased renal function to less than 25% of the total function was always associated with failure of the treatment. The time period between the ureteral injury and the appearance of the ureteral stricture had influence on the outcome of the treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Acucise endoureterotomy is effective in the treatment of postoperative ureteral strictures, but only in selected cases. The selection criteria are the time period from the primary operation to the appearance of the stricture (>6 months), the length of the stricture (<1.5 cm) and the renal function (>25% of the total function). In other cases, open surgical treatment of the ureteral stricture may provide better results.     

输尿管镜钬激光内切开术治疗输尿管狭窄

目的探讨输尿管镜钬激光内切开术治疗输尿管狭窄的疗效。方珐本组10例输尿管狭窄，狭窄位于输尿管上段6例，中段1例，下段3例，输尿管狭窄段长度为0．3—1．8cm，采用输尿管镜钬激光（200μm激光光纤，输出能量0．8—1．0J，脉冲频率10-15Hz）内切开术治疗，术后留置1根或2根F5双J支架管，2～3个月后拔管。蛄杲手术时间30-50min，平均42min，无严重并发症，1例手术失败，余9例随访5—15个月，平均9．5个月，8例效果满意，1例术后3个月复发。站论输尿管镜钬激光内切开术治疗输尿管狭窄具有创伤小、并发症少、恢复快等优点，是一种安全、有效的微创手术方式。     

Holmium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser endoureterotomy for the treatment of transplant kidney ureteral strictures

BACKGROUND: The management of ureteral strictures in transplanted kidney is challenging. Open surgical treatment is effective but entails significant convalescence. Holmium:yttrium-aluminum-garnet (Ho:YAG) laser endoureterotomy is useful for other types of ureteral obstruction, and we aimed to assess its long-term success for strictures of transplant kidney ureters. METHODS: We reviewed the course of 12 kidney transplant patients managed with Ho:YAG laser endoureterotomy and/or percutaneous ureteroscopic balloon dilatation for ureterovesical anastomotic strictures or ureteropelvic junction obstruction. Success was defined as stable serum creatinine and no hydronephrosis on follow-up. RESULTS: Of the patients, nine had ureterovesical anastomotic strictures. Of the six treated with balloon dilatation and Ho:YAG laser endoureterotomy, the success rate was 67% (58 months mean follow-up). Both strictures with failure were longer than 10 mm. Of the three patients treated with balloon dilatation only, there was success in only one (14 months follow-up) and both strictures with failure were shorter than 10 mm. There were three patients treated for ureteropelvic junction obstruction, one with balloon dilatation and two with balloon dilatation plus Ho:YAG laser endoureterotomy, all successfully (57 months mean follow-up). Overall, of the eight strictures 10 mm or shorter, there was success rate in six (75%), with 52 months mean follow-up, including five of five (100%) treated with laser endoureterotomy and one of three (33%) treated with only balloon dilation. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that Ho:YAG laser endoureterotomy should be a first line treatment for ureteral strictures of length 10 mm or shorter in kidney transplant patients.     

自膨式金属支架在结直肠梗阻中的应用进展

结直肠恶性梗阻的患者通常需要急诊手术治疗解除梗阻,然而传统的急诊手术并发症发生率及病死率高,尤其对于左半结肠癌及直肠癌患者。自膨式金属支架自应用20余年来,已较广泛的应用于结直肠的各种良恶性狭窄,但支架置入是否会影响患者的长期生存及肿瘤转移目前仍有很大争议。笔者从金属支架置入的适应证与禁忌证、支架在结直肠良恶性梗阻中的应用等方面结合最新研究进展做一综述,为临床诊疗提供参考。     

Endoureterotomy by intraluminal invagination for nonmalignant ureterointestinal anastomotic strictures: description of a new surgical technique and long-term followup

PURPOSE: We describe a new surgical endoscopic technique for nonmalignant ureterointestinal anastomotic strictures. This procedure involving endoureterotomy by intraluminal invagination (the Lovaco technique) is performed by adopting a combined percutaneous antegrade and endoscopic retrograde approach. The results obtained by this technique are reviewed with long-term followup. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 25 ureterointestinal anastomotic strictures were subjected to endoureterotomy by intraluminal invagination, including 12 left, 7 right and 3 bilateral cases. Surgical success was defined by radiological improvement and/or the ability to recover normal activity in the absence of flank pain, infection, or the need for ureteral stents or nephrostomy tubes. RESULTS: At a median followup of 51 months (range 2 to 145) the success rate for endoureterotomy by intraluminal invagination was 80% (20 of 25 ureterointestinal anastomotic strictures). No complications were recorded in the patients following endoureterotomy. CONCLUSIONS: This new endoureterotomy technique for ureterointestinal strictures following urinary diversion can be applied to any type of urinary diversion. It allows direct visualization of the stricture and stricture tissue biopsy. Intraluminal invagination makes it possible to increase the distance between the stricture, and the retroperitoneal vessels and bowels. The technique provides the control required to ensure full-thickness and full-length stricture incision. The success rate is high and it persists after long-term followup.     

Application of self-expandable metal stents for ureteroileal anastomotic strictures: long-term results

PURPOSE: We report our long-term experience with the management of benign ureteroileal anastomotic strictures using self-expandable metal stents. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 16 male and 2 female patients with a mean+/-SD age of 72+/-7 years (range 66 to 78) with benign fibrotic strictures at the site of ureteroileal anastomosis underwent implantation of self-expandable metal stents with a nominal diameter of 6 to 8 mm. A total of 24 ureteroileal conduits were treated. The external nephrostomy tubes were removed after fluoroscopic validation of ureteral patency. Patients were followed with blood biochemistry, ultrasonography, urography and/or virtual endoscopy. Retrograde external-internal catheter insertion through the cutaneous stoma was performed in cases of recalcitrant stricture. RESULTS: The technical success rate of ureteroileal stricture crossing and stenting was 100% (24 of 24 cases). Mean followup was 21 months (range 7 to 50). The clinical success rate during the immediate post-stenting period was 70.8% (17 of 24 cases). The 1 and 4-year primary patency rates were 37.8% and 22.7%, respectively. Secondary interventions included repeat balloon dilation in 15 ureters, of which 8 also underwent subsequent coaxial stent placement. The 1 and 4-year secondary patency rates were 64.8% and 56.7%, respectively. Except in 2 patients who died external-internal Double-J catheters continued to be inserted retrograde in 6 ureteroileal conduits. They are periodically exchanged to prevent mucous inspissation and stent encrustation. CONCLUSIONS: Metal stents served as the definitive treatment for stricture in more than half of the cases, whereas in the remainder the stents allowed the uncomplicated and regular exchange of Double-J catheters in retrograde fashion. This combined, less invasive treatment for ureteroileal anastomotic strictures may help patients avoid surgical revision and preserve quality of life.     

Iliac artery stenting versus surgical reconstruction for TASC (TransAtlantic Inter-Society Consensus) type B and type C iliac lesions

OBJECTIVE: The TransAtlantic Inter-Society Consensus (TASC) document did not define the best treatment for moderately severe iliac artery lesions, ie, TASC type B and type C iliac lesions, because of insufficient solid evidence to make firm recommendations. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of risk factors on outcome of iliac stenting and operative procedures used to treat TASC type B and type C lesions. METHODS: Over the 5 years from 1996 to 2001, 188 endovascular and direct aortoiliac surgical reconstruction procedures were performed in 87 women and 101 men with TASC type B and type C iliac lesions and chronic limb ischemia. The criteria prepared by the Ad Hoc Committee on Reporting Standards (Society for Vascular Surgery/International Society for Cardiovascular Surgery (SVS/ISCVS) were followed to define variables. Both univariate analysis (Kaplan-Meier method) and multivariate analysis (Cox proportional hazards model) were used to determine the association between variables, cumulative patency rate, limb salvage, and survival. RESULTS: Indications for revascularization were disabling claudication (73%), limb salvage (25%), and blue toe syndrome (2%). Patients in the surgery group (n = 52) had significantly higher primary patency rates compared with patients in the stent group (n = 136) at univariate analysis (Kaplan-Meier method, log-rank test; P =.015). Primary patency rates at 1, 3, and 5 years were 85%, 72%, and 64% after iliac stenting, and 89%, 86%, and 86% after surgical reconstruction, respectively. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis enabled identification of poor runoff (ie, runoff score >5 for unilateral procedures or >2.5 for bilateral outflow procedures; relative risk, 2.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.4-4.2; P =.001) as the only independent predictor of decreased primary patency in all patients. However, stratified analysis including only patients with poor runoff revealed that patients undergoing iliac stenting had significantly lower primary patency rates compared with those undergoing surgical reconstruction (Kaplan-Meier method, log-rank test; P =.05). External iliac artery disease and female gender were also identified as independent predictors of decreased primary stent patency. CONCLUSIONS: Poor infrainguinal runoff is the main risk factor for decreased primary patency after surgical reconstruction and iliac stenting to treat TASC type B and type C iliac lesions. However, primary patency is less affected by poor runoff in patients undergoing surgical procedures. The presence of poor runoff, external iliac artery disease, and female gender are independent predictors of poor outcome after iliac stenting, and therefore these risk factors should determine the need for surgical reconstruction.     

Partially covered self-expanding metal stent for unresectable malignant extrahepatic biliary obstruction: results of a large prospective series

Background

Endoscopic biliary stenting is a well-established palliative treatment in patients with unresectable malignant biliary strictures. Obstruction of uncovered self-expanding metal stent (SEMS) due to tumor ingrowth is the most frequent complication. Partially covered SEMS might increase stent patency but could favor complications related to stent covering, such as pancreatitis, cholecystitis, and migration. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of partially covered SEMS in patients with an unresectable malignant biliary stricture.

Methods

Patients with malignant extrahepatic biliary obstruction treated endoscopically with partially covered SEMS were included in this multicenter, prospective, nonrandomized study.

Results

One hundred ninety-nine patients were endoscopically treated with partially covered SEMS in 32 Spanish hospitals. Clinical success after deep cannulation was 96%. Early complications occurred in 4% (3 pancreatitis, 2 cholangitis, 1 hemorrhage, 1 perforation, and 1 cholecystitis). Late complications occurred in 19.5% (18 obstructions, 10 migrations, 6 cholangitis without obstruction, 3 acute cholecystitis, and 2 pancreatitis), with no tumor ingrowth in any case. Median stent patency was 138.9 ± 112.6?days. One-year actuarial probability of stent patency was 70% and that of nonmigration was 86%. Multivariate analysis showed adjuvant radio- or chemotherapy as the only independent predictive factor of stent patency and previous insertion of a biliary stent was the only predictive factor of migration.

Conclusions

The partially covered SEMS was easily inserted, had a high clinical success rate, and prevented tumor ingrowth. The incidence of possible complications related to stent coverage, namely, migration, pancreatitis, and cholecystitis, was lower than in previously published series.     

Endoscopic treatment of ureteric strictures: acucise, cold-knife endoureterotomy and wall stents as a salvage approach

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the factors influencing the results of endoureterotomy using cold-knife and cutting balloon dilatation, and permanent ureteral wall stents in patients with benign ureteral strictures after different operations affecting the ureter. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Over a 4-year period, in 18 patients, endoscopic cold-knife and Acucise endoureterotomies were performed in 13 and 7 renal units, respectively. Eight Memoterm permanent ureteral wall stents were inserted into 7 patients when endoureterotomy failed. Successful outcome was defined by the absence of re-stricture assessed both clinically and radiologically. RESULTS: The strictures were secondary to ureterolithotomy in 6, ureteroscopy in 3, gynecological procedures in 4, abdominal surgeries in 2, transplantation in 2 and continent urinary diversion in 1. The right and left ureters were unilaterally affected in 5 and 11 patients, respectively (5 of them had a solitary kidney), while the remaining 2 patients had bilateral ureteral strictures. We achieved total ureteral patency of 3 (43%) and 7 (54%) renal units with Acucise and cold-knife incision, respectively. Obstructive uropathy was resolved in 6 renal units (75%) of 8 using ureteral wall stents. CONCLUSION: Endoureterotomy with cold-knife or Acucise cutting balloon dilatation is effective in the treatment of iatrogenic ureteral strictures, but only in a selected group. Based on our results, the favorable prognostic criteria for endoureterotomy are the length (< or =1.5 cm), the nonischemic nature of the stricture and adequate renal function. As a salvage approach, permanent self-expanding ureteral wall stents with a 75% success rate may provide a satisfactory outcome for decompression of an obstructed system.     

Endoscopic treatment of benign ureteral strictures

BACKGROUND: The traditional choice of procedure for treatment of ureteral stricture is open surgical repair. Advances in endourology have provided the urological surgeon with an alternative to open surgery for the treatment of benign ureteral stricture. METHODS: Twenty-seven benign ureteral strictures in 24 patients were treated by the endourological method. Twelve endoureterotomies were performed using a cold knife via a 9.5Fr Storz ureteroscope and 15 high pressure balloon dilations were performed. The ureters were stented with 7 Fr double-J stents for 6 weeks. RESULTS: The success rate was 9/12 (75%) in the endoureterotomy group and 9/15 (60%) in the balloon dilation group after follow-up for more than 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic treatment of ureteral strictures appeared to be a safe and reasonably effective modality for the treatment of ureteral strictures, especially for the short type that are non-ischaemic in origin and not associated with radiation therapy. Endourological treatment of ureteral strictures is the procedure of choice for initial management of benign ureteral strictures and has high success rates and fewer complications.     

Transplant ureter stricture: Acucise endoureterotomy and balloon dilation are effective

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eight patients with ureteral stricture after renal transplantation underwent minimally invasive treatment with Acucise incision or balloon dilation. Acucise endoureterotomy was used to treat four patients with strictures at the ureterovesical anastomosis, and balloon dilation was used to treat four patients with a ureteroureterostomy stricture. Success was defined as an acceptable serum creatinine concentration in the absence of hydronephrosis with at least 1 year of follow-up. RESULTS: Acucise endoureterotomy for ureterovesical anastomosis stricture was successful in two of three patients (67%) with a mean follow-up of 20 months. One patient had an indeterminate outcome. Balloon dilation of strictured ureteroureterostomy was successful in three of four patients (75%) with a mean follow-up of 23.7 months. Three of the four patients with previously failed open revision were treated successfully with endourologic techniques. The two patients in whom treatment failed had strictures >/=1.5 cm and manifested comorbidities including diabetes mellitus. CONCLUSION: As our results are comparable to those of other published series, endourologic management of transplant ureteral stenosis is a reasonable strategy.     

Percutaneous placement of permanent metal stents for treatment of ureteroenteric anastomotic strictures

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of permanent metal stent placement in the treatment of ureteroenteric anastomotic strictures following failed balloon dilation or laser endoureterotomy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Metal stents were placed in six ureteroenteric anastomotic strictures in four patients presenting with recurrent obstruction after balloon dilation or laser endoureteromy. Patients were evaluated at 1 week postoperatively with antegrade ureterography and at 3 to 6 months with renal ultrasound or CT scans. Serum creatinine assays and physical examination were performed at serial postoperative clinic visits. RESULTS: At 1-week follow-up, antegrade studies demonstrated a patent anastomosis in all six strictures. With a mean follow-up of 10 months (range 7-12 months), no stricture recurrence has been seen. All patients have been clinically stable, without episodes of pyelonephritis, flank pain, or need for indwelling stents or nephrostomy tube placement. Serum creatinine concentrations have been stable in all patients. CONCLUSIONS: Metal stents offer a useful treatment option in patients who develop ureteroenteric anastomotic strictures after urinary diversion. Further, such stents may be used in patients failing balloon dilation or laser endoureterotomy. Further study to assess the long-term durability of metal stent placement is needed.     

Management of malignant biliary stricture with self-expanding metallic stent

Background: Self-expanding metallic mesh stents are designed to remain patent longer than polyethylene (PE) stents, which generally clog in 3 to 4 months. Though more expensive, metal stents may therefore be a better choice for malignant strictures. Methods: From January 1991 to October 1995, we performed ERCP in 212 patients with malignant or benign strictures, and 34 ultimately had insertion of a metallic stent. These stents were placed by the percutaneous transhepatic route in 17 patients and endoscopically in 17. Results: Metallic stent insertion was successful in each case and relieved the preoperative jaundice and cholangitis. There were no procedure-related deaths; complications were pancreatitis (one) and hemorrhage (one). Overall stent patency was 6.2 months. Three of 34 stents occluded due to tumor ingrowth at 3, 4.5, and 8 months and were treated by placing a new PE stent through the blocked metal stent. The remaining 31 stents remained patent until patient death (n= 15, mean survival = 4.9 months) or are still open (n= 16, mean patency = 12.2 months). Conclusions: Self-expanding metal stents provide effective palliation of malignant biliary strictures and should be considered an alternative to open surgery. Metal stents remain patent much longer than PE stents and usually a single session of metal stenting can palliate biliary obstruction for life. Received: 20 March 1996/Accepted: 9 May 1996     

Long-term results of antegrade endoureterotomy using the holmium laser in patients with ureterointestinal strictures

Objectives. To investigate the effectiveness and morbidity of percutaneous laser endoureterotomy in the management of ureterointestinal anastomotic strictures after radical cystectomy and urinary diversion.Methods. Between May 1997 and August 2000, 19 percutaneous endoureterotomy incisions, including 3 repeated incisions, were performed on 15 patients with a mean age of 61 years (range 41 to 80) to treat ureterointestinal strictures. A total of 16 renal units were treated (9 left, 7 right), including one bilateral procedure. All procedures were performed using a 200-μm holmium laser fiber in antegrade fashion with a 7.5F flexible ureteroscope. A nephroureteral stent was left in place for 4 to 6 weeks postoperatively. Success was defined as radiologic improvement and/or the ability to return to full activity in the absence of flank pain, infection, or the need for ureteral stents or nephrostomy tubes.Results. With a median follow-up of 20.5 months (range 9 to 41), the overall success rate was 57% (8 of 14 renal units). Two patients were lost to follow-up. The mean operative time was 91 minutes, and no perioperative complications occurred. Three patients required repeated endoureterotomies, with two requiring open reimplantation. Overall, the endoureterotomy failed in 6 patients in the series, with five of the six failures involving left-sided strictures.Conclusions. Percutaneous endoureterotomy is an effective, minimally invasive treatment option for patients with ureterointestinal strictures after urinary diversion. Better visualization and a more precise incision may make the holmium laser a safer cutting modality than alternative methods in patients with ureteroenteric strictures. Patients with left-sided ureterointestinal strictures should be cautioned that endourologic management might have a lower success rate.     

Discussion

OBJECTIVE: This study compared the results of surgery and endoscopy for benign biliary strictures in one institution, over the same period of time and with the same outcome definitions. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Surgery is considered the treatment of choice, offering more than 80% long-term success. Endoscopic stenting has been reported to yield similar results and might be a useful alternative. METHODS: In this nonrandomized retrospective study, 101 patients with benign biliary strictures were included. Thirty-five patients were treated surgically and 66 by endoscopic stenting. Patient characteristics, initial trauma, previous repairs, and level of obstruction were comparable in both groups. Surgical therapy consisted of constructing a biliary-digestive anastomosis in normal ductal tissue. Endoscopic therapy consisted of placement of endoprostheses, with trimonthly elective exchange for a 1-year period. RESULTS: Mean length of follow-up was 50 +/- 3.8 and 42 +/- 4.2 months for surgery and endoscopy, respectively. Early complications occurred more frequently in the surgically treated group (p < 0.03). Late complications during therapy, occurred only in the endoscopically treated group. In 46 patients, the endoprostheses were eventually removed. Recurrent stricturing occurred in 17% in both surgical and endoscopic patients. CONCLUSIONS: Surgery and endoscopy for benign biliary strictures have similar long-term success rates. Indications for surgery are complete transections, failed previous repairs, and failures of endoscopic therapy. All other patients are candidates for endoscopic stenting as the initial treatment.     

Holmium: Yttrium-Aluminum-Garnet Laser Endoureterotomy for Benign Ureteral Strictures: a Single-Centre Experience

Purpose: This study aimed to report the results of endoureterotomy for benign ureteral strictures using the holmium: yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser.

Material and methods: Nineteen patients (8 men and 11 women, mean age 51.47 years) underwent holmium: yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser endoureterotomy for benign ureteral strictures (8 proximal, 3 middle, and 8 distal) using semirigid ureteroscopy and 360-μm fibre at 1.2 J/pulse and 10 Hz. After completion of the incision, a 7-Fr double-J ureteral stent was left for 6 weeks. Thereafter, the patients were followed-up by ultrasound and/or intravenous urography at 36 monthly intervals.

Results: Success was defined as the absence of symptoms plus radiographic resolution of obstructions as assessed by diuretic renography and/or intravenous urography. With a mean follow-up of 40.2 months, success was achieved in 10 (52.6%) of the 19 patients. Nine patients developed recurrent strictures and were considered treatment failures. The stricture length and severity of hydronephrosis correlated with successful outcome, but gender, aetiology, side and location of strictures did not predict outcome.

Conclusions: Although endoureterotomy using a holmium: yttrium-aluminum-garnet laser has an equivocal outcome, the procedure is recommended as a safe, less invasive therapeutic option for the initial management of benign ureteral strictures.     

Metal mesh stents for ureteral obstruction caused by hormone-resistant carcinoma of prostate.

BACKGROUND: Long-segment ureteral obstruction by hormone-refractory carcinoma of the prostate is a difficult problem to manage. J-Stents often obstruct by compression. Metal mesh stents have been used successfully in the management of extrinsic ureteral obstruction caused by malignant disease. In this paper, we review our results in three patients in terms of the defined objective of palliation. PATIENTS AND METHODS: All three patients presented with painful obstructed kidneys and renal failure from long (7-10-cm) distal ureteral strictures responding to nephrostomy drainage. Endoluminal metal mesh stents of 7 to 8-mm diameter of various lengths (depending on the size of the stricture) were implanted after antegrade balloon dilatation of the stricture by a standard technique. The case notes were reviewed for technical success, preservation of the renal units, complications, and the impact on the overall quality of life. RESULTS: All three stents were placed without any complication and showed patency on contrast study. In one patient, the stent obstructed after 5 months, necessitating placement of a nephrostomy tube. In the remaining two patients, the stents obstructed within 3 months. During these 3 months, both patients had multiple admissions for stent-related complications and other symptoms of their disease. Overall quality of life was poor for these patients. CONCLUSION: Metal mesh ureteral stents give poor palliation in distal strictures caused by hormone-refractory carcinoma of the prostate. Permanent nephrostomy may be a more acceptable alternative in these patients with short life expectancies.     

Endoureterotomy for treatment of ureteral strictures.

Advances in endosurgical technology have provided the urological surgeon with an alternative to open surgery for the treatment of ureteral strictures. We report the use of an endoscopic intraureteral incision (endoureterotomy) followed by balloon calibration to treat benign ureteral strictures in 13 patients. With an average subjective and objective followup among successful endoureterotomies of 20 months (all cases 12 months or greater), the overall success rate for this procedure is 62%. Of these patients 5 also received triamcinolone injections into the stricture bed following incision and dilation. This method appeared to influence favorably subsequent ureteral patency. The only operative complication was a urinoma, which resolved without intervention. Endoureterotomy appears to be a safe and reasonably effective modality for the treatment of ureteral stricture disease.     

Complication of benign tracheobronchial strictures by self-expanding metal stents

OBJECTIVES: Self-expanding metal stents are used to palliate benign strictures. We examined the complications of this approach. METHODS: Between 1997 and 2002, we observed recurrent airway obstruction and extension of benign inflammatory strictures after the placement of tracheobronchial Microvasive Ultraflex stents and Wallstents (Boston Scientific Corp, Natick, Mass), in 10 patients with postintubation strictures and 5 with other indications; all but 1 patient were referred to us. Patients with tracheal (9), subglottic (1), combined tracheal and subglottic (3), and bronchial (2) strictures had been treated with covered and uncovered Wallstents (6) and Microvasive Ultraflex stents (9). RESULTS: After stent insertion, stricture and granulations within previously normal airway were seen in all patients. New subglottic strictures resulting from the stent caused hoarseness in 4 patients. A bronchoesophageal fistula was found in 1 patient at presentation and a tracheoesophageal fistula in another during extraction of a Wallstent. Primary surgical reconstruction, judged to have been feasible before wire stent insertion in 10 patients, was possible after stenting in only 7 and failed in 2. Palliative tubes were placed in 60% (9/15). Self-expanding metal stents may lengthen luminal damage, incite subglottic strictures, and cause esophagorespiratory fistula in inflammatory airway strictures. The injury is severe, occurs after a short duration of stenting, and precludes definitive surgical treatment or requires more extensive tracheal resection. CONCLUSION: The current generation of self-expanding metal stents should be avoided in benign strictures of trachea and bronchi.