[Ureter replacement operations].

Reviewing the recent literature and own clinical experiences, the possibilities of replacement of the ureter by isolated bowel segments, alloplastic prostheses and xenoplastic or autoplastic transplants are shown and evaluated. Although used only in single cases, the interposition of the appendix vermiformis into larger defects of the ureter seems to render the best results. The interposition of bowel segments in the urinary tract has been applied more often, the results, however, have been variable. Numerous modifications have been proposed. The use of alloplastic prostheses and free autologic transplants have--up to now--led to no satisfying long-term results. Only human deep frozen umbilical veins as xenotransplants seem to be suitable as ureter replacements.