Endoureteropyelotomy: percutaneous treatment of ureteropelvic junction obstruction

A total of 47 percutaneous operations (endoureteropyelotomy) was performed for treatment of 41 congenital and 6 secondary cases of ureteropelvic junction obstruction between September 1983 and April 1988. Evaluation was available in 39 cases with a followup of 4 to 56 months (mean 16 months). Good results were obtained in 28 of 39 cases (72 per cent) and there were 3 failures (8 per cent). Eight patients (20 per cent) were symptomatically improved but they had residual obstruction on a diuretic study. Only 1 multioperated patient with a good early postoperative result has shown radiological deterioration at 1 year. Complications were managed conservatively, except for 1 case of intravascular coagulopathy. Endoureteropyelotomy is an effective alternative treatment for ureteropelvic junction obstruction but further evaluation definitely is warranted to define better its indications and risk factors.