Natural history of refluxing distal ureteral stumps after nephrectomy and partial ureterectomy for vesicoureteral reflux

J Urol. 1998 Sep;160(3 Pt 2):1026-7. doi: 10.1097/00005392-199809020-00017.

Abstract

Purpose: We evaluated the natural history of refluxing distal ureteral stumps after nephrectomy and partial ureterectomy.

Materials and methods: Between 1985 to 1996, 38 patients a mean age of 37 months underwent nephrectomy and partial ureterectomy for reflux into a nonfunctioning kidney. The diagnosis included primary reflux in 23 patients, reflux associated with posterior urethral valves in 10 and ipsilateral ureterocele in 5. Mean followup was 45 months.

Results: Only 1 patient with an ipsilateral ureterocele and 1 with contralateral reflux (5%) had symptomatic infections during postoperative followup, and each underwent a secondary procedure to remove the ureteral stump. No patient with only primary unilateral reflux required surgery for the refluxing stump.

Conclusions: Because of the low risk of morbidity associated with a refluxing ureteral stump, we recommend nephrectomy and proximal ureterectomy in patients with reflux into a nonfunctioning kidney.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Nephrectomy*
  • Postoperative Complications / epidemiology
  • Recurrence
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Ureter / surgery*
  • Vesico-Ureteral Reflux / surgery*