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Clinical studies were made of 60 patients who had undergone ureterosigmoidostomy at our department. The 45 men and 15 women ranged from 35 to 73 years old, with a mean of 59.2 years. Ureterosigmoidanastomosis was performed using the modified Coffey II technique in this series. Bladder tumor was the reason for the operation in 55 cases, uterine cancer in 2, contracted bladder in 1, vesicovaginal fistula in 1 and urethral stricture in 1. In the excretory pyelogram one month after the operation, normal findings and slight hydronephrosis were observed in 37% and 63% of the patients, respectively. However, the pyelogram 6 months after the operation demonstrated normal findings in 61% of the patients, slight hydronephrosis in 34% and moderate hydronephrosis in 5%. None of them showed severe hydronephrosis. Slightly increased BUN level (less than 30 mg/dl) was seen in 15 out of 45 patients (32%) at one year after ureterosigmoidostomy. However, serum creatinine level was not above normal throughout the postoperative course. Although postoperative hyperchloremia was appreciably detected, it was easily managed by the administration of sodium bicarbonate. Serum sodium and potassium levels remained stationary. Of 35 patients observed for more than one year after operation, 11 patients (31%) had developed fever due probably to pyelonephritis, but sigmoidography failed to demonstrate any ureteral reflux. Either urinary or fecal fistula, a complication in the early postoperative period, occurred in 10 patients (17%). One of these patients died. Five patients were cured by conservative treatment. The remaining 4 patients underwent surgical treatment that was ureterocutaneostomy , nephrectomy, or colostomy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

We describe a patient with a chronic urinary cutaneous fistula following partial nephrectomy of a previously separated horseshoe kidney, who was treated successfully by stainless steel coil embolization of the renal artery. Thus, a major reoperation was avoided.

Lymphocele and lymphatic fistulae are relatively benign complications in renal transplantation. The incidence in our series of 248 renal transplants was 8%. The origin and pathogenesis of lymph collection and augmented lymph flow are discussed. The main importance of this complication lies in its differential diagnosis with urinary fistula and acute rejection episode or deep phlebothrombosis with all its therapeutic implications. Important lymph accumulations should be drained. We prefer as initial treatment a percutaneous closed aspiration which most successfully solves the problem. In case this method should fail, one can choose between external or internal drainage. As in literature, we actually prefer an internal marsupialisation, but completed by an omentoplasty if the leakage originates from the kidney.

The nonoperative management of a nephrocolic fistula that resulted from percutaneous nephrostolithotomy is reported. Adequate urinary drainage, removal of the nephrostomy tube, use of an elemental diet and antibiotic coverage are advocated.

Percutaneous nephrostomy coupled with an antegrade stent catheter was evaluated in 15 patients with uretero-enteric, uretero-cutaneous, uretero-vaginal, or uretero-retroperitoneal fistulas (urinomas). This technique offers an excellent conservative alternative to surgical management or retrograde catheterization.

The authors report 2 patients with recurrent retroperitoneal neoplasms in whom ureteral fistulas were treated successfully by percutaneous transcatheter embolization of the renal artery with absolute ethanol. Angio-occlusive nephrectomy is suggested as an alternative to surgical nephrectomy in seriously ill and high-risk patients to preserve their quality of life.

We treated 40 patients with urinary fistulas by interventional radiology. The antegrade percutaneous route, catheterization of the ureter and bypassing of the fistula enabled ureteral stenting in 36 patients (90 per cent). Criteria for successful treatment were healing of the fistula, normal renal function (evaluated by excretory urography and radionuclide studies) and absence of secondary stenosis at 6 months. Of the patients 28 (70 per cent) were treated successfully. The number of nephrectomies after failure of percutaneous techniques (5 of 40, or 12.5 per cent) seems lower than in the case of surgery. The results were excellent for fistulas occurring after endourology (all 9 successful) or after ureterointestinal anastomoses (7 of 8). On the other hand, the results appear disappointing in patients with fistulas in transplanted kidneys (3 of 4 failures).

In 285 renal transplantations, performed during the years 1967-1978, 6 ureteral obstructions (2,1%) and 15 urinary fistulas (5,3%) were observed. Ureteral obstructions occurred in the late phase after transplantation and were caused by strictures at the uretero-vesical anastomosis (two patients), compression of the ureter by enlarged kidney during rejection (one patient) resp. lymphocele (one patient) and strictures at the pyelo-ureteral junction (two patients). Satisfactory results were achieved by surgical treatment in all patients. Urinary fistulas occurred in the early postoperative phase. Two vesical, 12 vesico-ureteral and one calyceal fistula were observed. 7 fistulas (1 vesical, 6 vesico-ureteral) closed spontaneously after temporary drainage of the bladder. 8 fistulas were repaired surgically. While satisfactory results were obtained in 13 patients, two patients died due to infection and sepsis after reoccurrence of fistulas.

14 ureteral stenoses and 5 fistulae following an uro-intestinal anastomosis (UIA) were managed by a transrenal percutaneous approach. The stenoses (12 uretero-ileal and 1 uretero-colic anastomoses) were dilated with an angioplasty balloon and stented for several weeks. After withdrawal of the stent, performed on 12 out of 14 patients, the dilatation was successful in 8/12 cases (66%), with a follow up of 3 to 36 months. All the fistulae were dried. In 2 cases, complete recovery was achieved after placement of a bilateral nephrostomy tube. In 2 other cases, the ureter was stented at the site of the fistula which dried without sequelae after withdrawal of the stent. In the last case (uretero-colic diversion) surgery was performed after the fistula dried for the cure of a complete stenosis associated with the fistulae. The use of percutaneous nephrostomy is highly recommended for the management of post-operative stenoses and fistulae before considering surgical correction.

Percutaneous nephrostomy and stenting are effective alternatives to the surgical management of urinary fistulas and structures in the renal transplant recipient. By using these methods, five of six fistulas were able to heal, and lasting dilation of two of three ureteral strictures was achieved. Although we have generally restricted this approach for patients in whom the initial operation has failed, percutaneous management may, in fact, be the treatment of choice. The advantages of this nonsurgical approach must be balanced against the lengthy treatment period sometimes required.

Two patients presenting with urinary fistulas following partial resection of hydronephrotic kidneys were successfully treated with selective arterial embolization causing functional ablation of the remaining renal parenchyma. This technique is simpler than surgical reexploration.

We report on a patient with a fistula between the right common iliac artery and the distal right ureter who had undergone pelvic exenteration for carcinoma of the uterine cervix. The patient also had received prior radiation therapy and was being treated with an indwelling ureteral stent at the time the fistula developed. Diagnosis was made by an occlusive ureterogram and the lesion was treated successfully with embolization of the common iliac artery.

Endoscopically placed inlying ureteral stents have proved useful in the conservative management of patients with ureteral obstruction, urinary fistula, and malignancy and have obviated the need for operative intervention. In high-risk symptomatic patients with widespread malignancy, internal urinary diversion offers the opportunity for an improved quality of life without the surgical risk or potential morbidity of supravesical diversion. Potential candidates for this simple, safe, and effective technique include: those with postsurgical obstruction and/or fistula, retroperitoneal fibrosis, metastatic carcinoma, congenital ureteropelvic junction obstruction, as well as those with reversible obstruction from lymphoma and carcinoma of the prostate who are undergoing radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy. The focus of this report is on the technique we have found successful in providing us with stents that fit our individual patients. Readily available fabricated graduated ureteral catheter can be cut and shaped to particular measurements unlike prefabricated catheters. Minimal preparation time is demanded, and there is no need for extensive stocking of various catheter sizes.

Ureteral occlusion with proximal urinary diversion is often required when treating patients with ureteral fistulas secondary to advanced neoplastic disease. Recent endourologic advancements have stemmed from the high morbidity and mortality associated with formal surgical reconstruction in this population. Endourologic management may be accomplished by a transrenal or retroperitoneal approach. To date, no study has clearly demonstrated the superiority of any one approach because of the small numbers of patients and the uniformly short-term follow-up.

Transrenal ureteral occlusion using a detachable balloon was successfully employed to stop urinary flow in seven patients. The balloon was filled with low-viscosity silicone rubber and released in the distal ureter. Percutaneous nephrostomy provided external drainage. Indications were painful dysuria and large urinary fistulas in advanced pelvic malignancy. The method is preferable to ureteral embolization with tissue adhesive.

211 percutaneous nephrostomies (PCN) have been performed on 189 patients under combined fluoroscopic and reel time ultra-sound guidance. 4 major complications occurred with consisted in one hemorrhage and 3 septicemias. Indication of the PCN was diagnostic in 35 cases and therapeutic in 176 cases. Decompression of pyelo-caliceal system (89 cases) among with 72 in emergency, drying of an urinary fistula (8 cases), balloon dilatation of benign ureteral stenoses (18 cases) and treatment of 60 renal stones (3 dissolutions and 57 extractions). Results showed the drying of the fistula in all cases, the long term success of the balloon dilatation in 50% cases and 80% success rate of stone extraction.

Most urinary fistulae of obstetric origin involve the bladder. The ureter is rarely injured. The authors report three cases of uretero-uterine fistulae, an entity accounting for 1.6% of all urinary fistulae resulting from obstetric trauma. Diagnosis and management are discussed with reference to 19 cases of uretero-uterine fistulae reported in the literature.

Intravenous hyperalimentation has gained great acceptance in the management of complex medical and surgical problems. This paper presents two cases of fistula developing in patients treated with irradiation and who had total cystectomy and ileal conduit diversion for carcinoma of the urinary bladder. The fistulas closed completely after two to four weeks of hyperalimentation. Neither patient required operation. Parenteral nutrition can be of value in the management of various difficult urologic problems.