A novel surgical technique for management of vesicoureteral reflux following kidney transplantation: prospective study of 12 cases

The incidence of vesicoureteral reflux (VUR) varies between 10% and 80% of transplanted kidneys. In cases of failure of endoscopic treatment or recurrent urinary tract infections, surgical correction is proposed by ureteral reimplantation or pyeloureteral anastomosis using the native ureter. The aim of this study was to assess the results of a technique that increases the submucosal length of the ureter without a ureterovesical reimplantation. We treated 12 patients with VUR in the transplanted kidney by open surgery. Retrograde cystography showed resolution of reflux in all the patients. Our technique has the advantage of avoiding ureteral dissection thereby avoiding its devascularization and no invasion of the bladder mucosa.