Management of vesicoureteral reflux in patients with neurogenic bladder dysfunction

We studied 20 cases of neurogenic bladder with vesico-ureteral reflux retrospectively. Seven patients voided with Valsalva's maneuver and 12 patients were managed with clean intermittent catheterization, but one patient required permanent urinary diversion because of uncontrollable urinary tract infection. The patients were followed by intravenous pyelography, radioisotope renogram, voiding cystourethrography, determination of serum creatinine level and urodynamic study. Anti-reflux surgery was performed in 22 ureters and reflux resolved in 19 ureters. Among 12 ureters not treated by anti-reflux surgery, reflux disappeared in 5 ureters and improved in 2 ureters. Of 5 ureters, reflux resolved after clean intermittent catheterization in 2 ureters, and remained stable without recurrent infection or renal deterioration in the remaining 5 ureters. Regardless whether antireflux surgery was done or not, most of the patients who had high grade reflux and obstructive renal damage on radioisotope examinations had marked low compliance bladders. Our experience suggested the necessity of a suitable treatment to improve bladder compliance before considering anti-reflux surgery.     

Dynamics of spontaneous refluxing and non-refluxing ureters in pigs. I. The impact of urine flow variations

In 7 piglets the pressure and peristaltic activity of both pyelo-ureters were investigated during low and high urine output and changes in bladder pressure and volume. Six ureters were shown to have spontaneous vesico-ureteric reflux, with a mean reflux producing bladder pressure of 26 cmH2O. During low urine output the median ureteric activity was of low frequency and identical in refluxing and patent ureters. When bladder filling was induced the median ureteric activity increased by 23% in the non-refluxing ureters and by 25% in refluxing ureters. During high urine output the median ureteric activity was slightly higher on the refluxing side. Under the influence of bladder filling the median ureteric activity increased with 131% in non-refluxing ureters and with 57% in refluxing ureters. In low urine output, the pelvic pressure was more or less independent of the bladder pressure, whereas during high urine output the pelvic pressure followed the bladder pressure in both refluxing and non-refluxing ureters. All peristaltic events were antegrade and complete. Thus no significant differences were found urodynamically between patent ureters and spontaneous refluxing, normally calibrated ureters.     

Inflammatory cell infiltrate in distal ureteral segments from patients with reflux

A total of 110 reimplanted ureters from 61 patients were examined by light microscopy. Twenty-four distal segments from nonrefluxing ureters were used as control group. Overall, 55 of 110 specimens (50%) had inflammatory cell infiltrates (ICI) consisting of lymphocytes and plasma cells in the submucosa and adjacent muscularis. Forty-five ureters (82%) had mild ICI, and 10 ureters (18%) had moderate or severe ICI only in patients with history of infection. ICI increased with grade of reflux in both infected and noninfected groups. Of 75 ureters (68%) from patients with history of infection, 45 (60%) had ICI. Ten of 35 ureters (29%) from patients without history of infection had ICI. A causal relationship between reflux and ICI remains speculative and needs further study.     

肾移植中供肾输尿管异常的处理

目的：探讨肾移植术中供肾输尿管异常的手术处理方法。方法：回顾性分析18例供。肾输尿管异常的肾移植术中处理,包括损伤致输尿管过短8例,完全型双输尿管4例,不完全型双输尿管2例,输尿管结石2例,巨输尿管2例。根据具体情况采用输尿管膀胱吻合术、供受者输尿管端端吻合术和膀胱腰大肌悬吊术等方法再植输尿管。结果：术后恢复顺利,未发生移植肾功能延迟恢复和尿漏。随访3～8年,发生输尿管梗阻1例,行经皮。肾造口输尿管镜切开后治愈。发生尿路感染5例（其中2例为反复感染）。未见膀胱输尿管返流。结扎输尿管的原肾未出现胀痛和不适,B超检查未见肾积水。带输尿管结石移植肾未见结石复发。巨输尿管供肾移植后输尿管管径稳定,无明显增大。结论：供肾输尿管损伤和异常时采用不同的技术修复和再植输尿管,可减少并发症的发生。     

Clinical evaluation of vesicoureteroneostomy. I. Efficacy of surgery in 65 cases (100 ureters) of primary vesicoureteral reflux

We have experienced 72 patients with primary vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) during the past 16 years. Sixty-five of them (100 ureters) were treated surgically to prevent reflux. Among the surgical methods employed, the Politano-Leadbetter method was the most frequent, being used in 56 patients (87 ureters). Other methods were the combined method in 2 patients (three ureters), the Glenn-Anderson method in 1 (2 ureters), the Cohen method in 1 (1 ureter) and the Lich-Gregoir method in 5 patients (7 ureters). As postoperative complications in the early stage (within 1 month after surgery), remaining VUR in 1 ureter in 1 of the patients who underwent surgery by the Politano-Leadbetter method and occurrence of VUR on the contralateral side in 3 patients with unilateral VUR were encountered. These conditions disappeared during the follow-up period. On the other hand, in the late postoperative stage, ureteral stenosis requiring further surgery occurred in 1 ureter in the transitional region to the urinary bladder in 1 patient 2 months after surgery by the Lich-Gregoir method. The rate of success was all 87 ureters (100%) for the Politano-Leadbetter method and 6 out of 7 ureters (85.7%) for the Lich-Gregoir method. The success rates for the other procedures were also good, resulting in an overall rate of 99 out of 100 ureters (99.0%). Ninety-nine percent of the patients had been treated at least once preoperatively for pyelonephritis or fever of unknown etiology. Among these patients, those who had had 5 or more such episodes accounted for 39%.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Clinical results of tubeless cutaneous ureterostomy by Toyoda's method

Tubeless cutaneous ureterostomy by Toyoda's method was conducted in 67 ureters from 43 patients during the last 9 years. Subjects included 30 males and 13 females, with an average age of 61.4 years. Most of them were afflicted with malignant tumors in the bladder, rectum, prostate, or uterus. For bilateral ureterostomy, the double-barrel method was performed in which the stoma was made at the same site in both the right and left ureters. Among 60 ureters in which pre- and postoperative changes in the renal pelvis could be traced by IVP, satisfactory results were obtained in 16 of 20 ureters treated by unilateral surgery. Of the 40 ureters treated by the double-barrel method, moderate or severe pyeloectasis was observed in 3 of the 20 ureters on the side of the stoma, while moderate pyeloectasis was seen in 3 of 20 ureters of the side opposite the stoma, and severe pyeloectasis or loss of renal function was noted in 5. Thus, renal function on the side opposite the stoma was frequently influenced by the procedure. A patient who died of disseminated intravascular coagulation syndrome soon after the operation was excluded from analysis. Tubeless cutaneous ureterostomy could be conducted in 39 of 42 patients (92.8%), excluding one whose stoma and its periphery were covered with severe inflammatory granulation and 2 with ureteral constriction.     

An alternative procedure for the creation of an ileal conduit in patients undergoing pelvic exenteration: dextrotransmesenteric location

Ileal conduits have long been accepted as a standard method for urinary diversion, but conventional ileal conduits are not always suitable for patients whose ureters are for the greater part compromised by neoplasm or preoperative irradiation, resulting in a shortening of the ureters. Bowel migration into the large cavity, which develops after pelvic organ removal, appears to cause tension on the ureteroileal anastomotic site. Dextrotransmesenteric placement of an ileal conduit may provide easy access to the shortened ureters without exerting pressure on the anastomosis. We employed this procedure in seven patients undergoing pelvic exenteration with relatively minimal morbidity.     

Treatment of vesico-ureteric reflux in children with neuropathic bladder: a comparison of surgical and endoscopic correction

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Vesico-ureteric reflux (VUR) is a common problem in children with neuropathic bladder. Lesser-degree VUR may be manageable by intermittent catheterization or by anticholinergics, but higher grades usually require surgical treatment. If left untreated, two thirds of such patients may experience deterioration of the upper renal tracts. The aim of this study was to compare the results of the STING (Subureteric Teflon Injection) technique with surgical ureteric reimplantation as treatment for VUR in neuropathic bladder. METHODS: From January 1981 to December 1996, 58 children with NB (81 ureters) were treated for VUR. STING and Cohen ureteroneocystotomy were performed in 40 and 41 ureters, respectively. Mean age was 4.5 years (STING) and 5.1 years (Cohen). RESULTS: Twenty-nine of 40 refluxing ureters (72.5%) were cured by STING, whereas Cohen eradicated reflux in 39 of 41 ureters (95.5%). No complications were observed in either group. All the ureters in which STING failed were treated successfully by Cohen ureteroneocystostomy. The 2 ureters still refluxing after surgical reimplantation were cured successfully by a single STING. The mean follow-up was 6.8 years in the Cohen group and 4.8 years in the STING group. During follow-up, no recurrence was observed in patients cured by open reimplantation. In the STING group, 2 previously cured ureters showed recurrence of VUR: both were treated successfully by a further STING. CONCLUSIONS: Open ureteral reimplantation is more effective than STING in correcting VUR in children with neuropathic bladder dysfunction. Nevertheless, the good success rate, the relative technical simplicity, outpatient nature, and rapid recovery point to STING as a safe and effective procedure for the initial treatment of VUR. Failure of STING does not preclude a successful open operation.     

双频双脉冲激光治疗输尿管结石失败原因分析

目的:探讨输尿管硬镜下双频双脉冲激光治疗输尿管结石失败原因。方法:对25例输尿管硬镜下双频双脉冲激光治疗输尿管结石失败患者的临床资料进行分析。结果:25例患者术中19例结石回漂、移位进入肾盂,无法寻见结石;3例输尿管扭曲或狭窄,进镜困难而放弃;3例因输尿管开口异常,置镜失败而终止手术。结论:结石回漂入肾盂、输尿管扭曲或狭窄、输尿管开口异常是手术失败的主要原因。合适病例的选择,套石篮的应用,冲洗速度的调整,碎石时激光纤维的位置是手术成功的关键。     

The effect of location of the ureteric orifice on the efficacy of endoscopic injection to correct vesico-ureteric reflux

OBJECTIVE: To review our 11-year experience and identify the mechanisms responsible for the failure of endoscopic injection for vesico-ureteric reflux (VUR) with three different injectable agents, based on the location of the ureteric orifice on endoscopy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the charts and endoscopic video-photographs of 46 patients (26 girls, 20 boys, median age 6 years, range 2-16) with VUR treated once or twice by subureteric injection with PTFE, or polydimethylsiloxane or dextranomer/hyaluronic acid copolymer, from 1992 to 2003. Five patients were lost to follow-up and six ectopic and/or duplicated ureters were excluded from the analysis; in all, 52 ureters were analysed. According to the international classification, the VUR was grades I to V in four (8%), 12 (23%), 16 (31%), 13 (25%) and seven (13%) ureters, respectively. RESULTS: After 3 months, voiding cysto-urethrography showed that VUR continued in six of 19, seven of 12 and eight of 21 ureters (38%), respectively, after subureteric PTFE, polydimethylsiloxane and dextranomer/hyaluronic acid copolymer injection; after the second injection, reflux continued in two of six, four of seven and three of eight ureters, respectively. Mound displacement and/or volume loss was the most common failure with all three bulking agents after both the first (62%) and second injections (44%) (P < 0.05). The first injection failed in 32% (11 of 35) normally located ureters and 10 of 17 lateral ureters (P < 0.05). The second injection failed in 11% (four of 35) normal and five of 17 lateral ureters (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: A lateral ureteric orifice may decrease the efficacy of endoscopic injection, as the likelihood of a faulty injection is greater. However, a more careful second injection decreases the failure rate, particularly in those with low- to medium-grade refluxing ureters.     

Effects of fibrin glue on injured rabbit ureter

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Fibrin glue is used as a hemostatic agent, has potential as a tissue adhesive, and may promote tissue healing. The histologic effects of fibrin glue on the ureter have not yet been fully investigated. We studied the effect of fibrin glue on the thickness of various layers of injured and uninjured ureters and its effect on vessel density in the rabbit model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Rabbits were divided into two groups. The ureters were exposed using a midline abdominal incision. In the study group, one of the ureters was crushed, and fibrin glue was instilled around both ureters. In the control group, one of the ureters was crushed, but no fibrin glue was instilled. The animals were sacrificed at 6 weeks and the ureters examined histologically. Using NIH Image Analysis solftware, the thickness of the urothelium, muscular, and adventitial layers and the cross-sectional area of the ureters were measured. The vessel density of the ureters was also assessed. RESULTS: Whereas the thickness of the epithelium was increased in the crushed ureters treated with fibrin glue (20.7 microm v 15.3 microm), the thickness was reduced in the uncrushed ureters treated with fibrin glue compared with controls (16.3 microm v 19.8 microm). There was no statistically significant difference in the thickness of the muscular or adventitial layers in the study and control groups. There was a reduction in the cross-sectional area of the uncrushed ureters treated with fibrin glue compared with controls (7,095 microm2 v 9,409 microm2). In addition, the vessel density in the crushed ureters was reduced in ureters treated with fibrin glue compared with controls (0.00067/microm2 v 0.00108/micro2). In the uncrushed ureters, the difference was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Fibrin glue has potential as an adhesive agent in the ureter and may promote healing. It may affect epithelial layer thickness and vessel density of the ureter, but these effects were variable. Fibrin glue does not appear to have significant effects on the ureteral muscular and adventitial layers or on the overall cross-sectional area of all three layers. These results indicate that fibrin glue does not appear to have a detrimental effect on the ureter.     

Raw surface reimplantation of ureter in bladder and colon conduit

Ureters implanted on raw areas denuded of mucosa become overlaid by regenerating mucosa which grows over the ureter. The anatomic and functional results are similar to those obtained from tunnelization techniques of ureteral implantation. The raw surface reimplantation of ureters was used in dogs, and reflux could not be demonstrated in over 90 per cent of reimplanted ureters. Clinically, the method may be advantageous in cases in which creation of a submucosal tunnel in the bladder or colon proves difficult because of mucosal friability or scarring.     

Endoscopic treatment of vesicoureteral reflux: 11 to 17 years of followup

PURPOSE: We review our 17-experience with endoscopic subureteral polytetrafluoroethylene injection for the treatment of primary vesicoureteral reflux in children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the charts of 258 patients with primary vesicoureteral reflux who were treated with subureteral polytetrafluoroethylene injection from 1984 to 1990. RESULTS: The study included 205 girls and 53 boys between 3 months and 14 years old (median age 6 years). Of the patients 92 had unilateral vesicoureteral reflux, 129 had bilateral reflux and 37 had a refluxing duplex system including 6 with bilateral duplex systems. Endoscopic treatment by subureteral polytetrafluoroethylene injection was performed in 393 ureters. Reflux was corrected in 302 ureters (76.8%) after a single injection. Injection failed to stop reflux in 7 ureters (7 patients) and reimplantation was required. Patients were followed from 11 to 17 years with a mean followup plus or minus standard deviation of 13.5 +/- 3.4 years. Four patients were either lost to followup or parents refused to let them undergo voiding cystourethrography. Voiding cystourethrography in 247 patients with 379 ureters revealed that 360 ureters (95%) remain free of reflux whereas reflux recurred in 19 ureters (5%). Of these 19 ureters reflux was grade I or II in 13 for which no treatment was given and reflux was grade III or IV in 6, which required repeat injection. No untoward effects were seen in any of these patients with use of polytetrafluoroethylene as an injectable biomaterial. CONCLUSIONS: Endoscopic subureteral polytetrafluoroethylene injection is a simple and effective outpatient procedure for in the treatment of vesicoureteral reflux. No long-term morbidity was observed in our patients with small amounts of injectable polytetrafluoroethylene.     

Surgical alleviation of ureteric obstruction in idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis. An analysis of 9 cases

Nine patients with retroperitoneal fibrosis were reviewed. All patients had idiopathic disease, bilateral in eight patients. An IVP on admission was normal in only one of 17 kidneys with delayed excretion in seven. The upper urinary tract was dilated in eight kidneys and no excretion of contrast medium was seen in four; another four kidneys were not examined by IVP because of uremia. Surgical alleviation of ureteric obstruction was carried out by ureterolysis alone (2 ureters), ureterolysis and lateral displacement of the ureter (2 ureters), ureterolysis and neoimplantation into the bladder (2 ureters), ureterolysis and intraperitonealization (2 ureters), and ureterolysis and omental wrap (7 ureters). After surgery, an IVP showed normal excretion in six of the seven kidneys with delayed excretion preoperatively. Two of the four preoperatively nonfunctioning kidneys also showed normal excretion at IVP. Of the four kidneys not preoperatively examined by IVP because of uremia two showed a normal excretion on postoperative IVP. Two ureters developed recurrent obstruction and required additional surgery whereas 10 ureters remained unobstructed in the follow-up period of 26-89 months. Our experience suggests that complete and extensive ureterolysis combined with omental wrapping gives the best results on a long-term basis.     

Endoscopic correction of grades IV and V primary vesicoureteric reflux: six to 30 month follow-up in 42 ureters

Between March 1984 and March 1986, 31 children with 42 ureters with grades IV and V primary vesicoureteric reflux were treated by endoscopic subureteric injection of Polytef paste. Reflux ceased after a single injection in 28 ureters, after the second in six, after the third in three and after the fourth injection in one. Two ureters showed improvement to grade II reflux after two injections and no further treatment was given. Two ureters showed no change in grade of reflux after three and four injections, respectively. Twenty-seven children with successfully treated ureters have now been followed up for periods ranging from 6 to 30 months. All 38 ureters had a negative micturating cystogram following endoscopic correction. At follow-up there was no reflux in 32 (84%) ureters and recurrence in six (16%). The procedure is simple to perform and without significant complications. The follow-up results show that the endoscopic treatment is reliable and effective in correcting higher grades of vesicoureteric reflux.     

Reflux in cystoplasties

Vesicoureteral reflux is a commonly encountered condition in pediatric urology. The treatment of vesicoureteral reflux is debated in all patients. Much controversy exists regarding the need to reimplant refluxing ureters at the time of bladder augmentation, particularly in those patients with neuropathic bladders. In patients with neuropathic bladders, reflux may be the result of elevated detrusor pressure, recurrent/persistent urinary tract infections and/or a neuropathic dysfunction at the ureterovesical junction and the trigone. Treatment of VUR in patients undergoing bladder augmentation varies and includes routinely reimplanting all refluxing ureters, selectively reimplanting ureters with high-grade reflux or avoiding anti-reflux surgery in all patients regardless of the grade of reflux. We review the literature and our experience with the treatment of vesicoureteral reflux in patients that have undergone augmentation cystoplasty.     

ECTOPIC URETER OPENING INTO THE SEMINAL VESICLE IN AN INFANT: A CASE REPORT AND REVIEW OF THE JAPANESE LITERATURE

A case is presented of an ectopic ureter opening into the seminal vesicle associated with hypodysplastic kidney In an infant. We reviewed 135 cases (139 ureteral units) of male ectopic ureter from the Japanese literature and, of the 139 ectopic ureters, 109 were single-system ectopic ureters, and 26 ureters were associated with the ureteral duplication. Sixty-three and 73 ureters opened into the urinary tract and seminal tract. respectively. In patients 15 years or older, 65 cases of ectopic ureter opened into the seminal tract and 33 cases opened into the urinary tract, whereas in children under 15 years, the ectopic orifice was located more often in the urinary tract (26 cases) than in the seminal tract (8 cases). Presenting symptoms differed according to the location of the ectopic orifice. Ectopic ureters opening into the urinary tract most often presented with urinary tract infection and abdominal or lumbar pain. On the other hand, voiding and ejaculatory symptoms as well as perineal or genital pain were characteristic in ectopic ureters opening into the seminal tract. Of the 83 associated renal segments that were surgically removed, dysplasia. hypoplasia and aplasia were found in 24. 14 cases, respectively. It was noteworthy that 48 of the 53 single ectopic ureters opening into the seminal vesicle were associated with ipsilateral renal dysgenesis.     

Histomorphometric study of experimental extramucosal ureteroureterostomy.

The reconstruction of the urinary tract is still nowadays a controversial issue. This study is based on the use of histomorphometric techniques to describe the changes which take place in extramucosal ureteroureterostomy. A medial laparotomy was performed in 41 Wistar rats. The left ureter was sectioned and an extramucosal anastomosis was performed. All rats were sacrificed 25 days postsurgery. Histomorphometric studies were performed on the sutured ureters as well as on the contralateral (unrepaired) ureters. Two of the 41 cases operated died. Five others developed hydronephrosis and/or urinary fistula. Histomorphometric studies gave an average cross-sectional area of 98,662.5 +/- 31,927 mu 2 for the anastomosed ureters versus 75,176.3 +/- 16,732.4 mu 2 for the control ureters (P less than or equal to 0.01). Sutured ureters showed an increase in the area of the muscular layer (P less than or equal to 0.001) and the submucosa (P less than or equal to 0.01) compared with control ureters. Mucosa and lumen areas showed no significant differences between the groups. Sectioned ureters show an increase in total area and width based on a hypertrophy of the muscular and submucosal layers.     

Recovery process of injured ureters in dogs

This paper is the 13th report in a series of studies on the application of microexplosion to medicine and biology. The recovery process of injured ureters was investigated in the day. The 60 ureters of 42 mongrel dogs were used. The ureter was injured with a nail, punch or surgical knife. The "pierced injury" was passed through the ureter with a nail of 1 mm or 2 mm in diameter, the "punch injury" was punched out in the ureter by a puncher of 1 mm or 2 mm in diameter and the "cut injury" was cut in the ureter 5 mm or 10 mm in size with a surgical knife. The recovery process of the injured ureter was observed in each of the two ureters 3 days, 1 week, 3 weeks, 6 weeks and 12 weeks after the injury by means of IVP, for macroscopic and microscopic findings. The results were as follows: 1) In IVP, it was observed that the 1 mm pierced injury resulted in no urine leakage after 3 days, that the 2 mm pierced injury and 1 mm punch injury in no urine leakage after almost 1 week and that the 2 mm punch injury and 5 mm cut injury and 10 mm cut injury in no urine leakage after almost 3 weeks. Hydroureter due to tissue edema was observed only in one ureter with a 10 mm cut injury after 1 week. No ureteral stricture, hydronephrosis or hydroureter was observed in the other ureters.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Ureteral action potential and histological changes in the upper urinary tract receiving the formalin

The present study investigates the ureteral action potential and histological changes of pelvi-ureteral system after injection of the formalin into the obstracted ureters or the renal pelvis. In the first experiment, formalin was injected into the obstructed ureters of 18 dogs for 30 minutes. In the second, formalin was injected into the obstracted renal pelvis of 13 dogs for 30 minutes using ureteral balloon catheters, and then renal pelvis were released from obstraction and catheters were removed. In these experiments, ureteral electromyogram were recorded and histological changes of pelvi-ureteral system were also observed microscopically. Results 1. After injection of formalin into the ureters, ureteral action potential disappeared and had not restored. Histologically, damage was observed in the ureteral smooth muscle as well as in the mucosa. 2. After injection of formalin into the renal pelvis, ureteral action potential disappeared in 46% of the ureters. In 54% of the ureters, action potential had not disappeared, however discharge interval became irregular. Histological changes of the renal pelvis was not related to the presence or absence of ureteral action potential. The results of the present study show that ureteral smooth muscle play part in the conduction of the ureteral excitation, and have an irregular autonomic discharge.