[Treatment of uretero-intestinal and uretero-vesical stenoses with the Acucise balloon catheter].

OBJECTIVE

Acucise balloon catheter has been proposed as an alternative to open surgery for the treatment of strictures of the ureteropelvic junction because of its low morbidity and the short hospital stay following the endoscopic procedure. The objective of this study was to evaluate the results of this technique applied to patients developing strictures after surgical reimplantation of the ureterovesical (UV) or uretero-intestinal (UI) junction.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Between March 1997 and January 2000, 12 strictures (11 patients) were treated by Acucise balloon catheter via an antegrade and/or retrograde approach with double J stenting for an average of 6 weeks (range: 4 to 12 weeks): 6 uretero-ileal strictures (3 Bricker, 1 uretero-ileoplasty, 1 enterocystoplasty and 1 Kock pouch) and 6 ureterovesical strictures (Lich-Grégoir or Faquin UV reimplantations after gynaecological, vascular or endoscopic surgery). The median postoperative follow-up was 16 months (range: 10 months-36 months). A good result was defined by the absence of recurrence of the stricture evaluated both clinically and radiologically (regression of stasis measured by IVU and/or ultrasonography).

RESULTS

The mean operating time was 70 min and the mean hospital stay was 4.8 days (range: 3 and 14 days). Only one intraoperative complication was observed (migration of the double J stent to the kidney). The operation was successful in 8 patients (75%). The success rate was 83% for ureterovesical strictures and 50% for uretero-ileal strictures. A history of previous irradiation appeared to be a factor of failure.

CONCLUSION

The Acucise procedure is a minimally invasive and effective (75% success rate) treatment option for the treatment of postoperative stricture after ureteric reimplantations. In our department, this option is considered to be first-line treatment, as surgical reimplantation is reserved for failures of the endoscopic technique.