Experiences in kidney transplantation with duplicated ureters

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the complications of duplicated ureters in renal transplant recipients. METHODS: Between 1983 and 2004, 12 patients (median age 34 years) received renal transplants from donors with duplicated ureters. In four patients the ureter to bladder anastomoses were performed separately according to the method described by MacKinnon, including two cases transplanted with ureteral catheters because of narrow widths. In the following cases of eight duplicated ureters an anastomosis was performed between the distal part of each ureter to form a common ureteral ostium, which was connected to the urinary bladder. A ureteral catheter was used to the splint ureterovesical anastomosis. RESULTS: No graft loss to ureteral complications was observed. There was no ureteral necrosis in the postoperative period. No clinical symptoms of ureteral junction obstruction were revealed after removing the ureteral catheter. By ultrasound examination four patients showed a slight temporary pyelocaliectasis was observed and four patients developed temporary urinary fistulas. CONCLUSION: Our ureterocystoneostomy procedures with duplicated ureters were safe and useful in kidney transplantation.