The abdominal surgeon and the ureter.

Iatrogenic ureteral injuries are not common but may occur whenever the retroperitoneum is opened. The best time to treat these injuries is when they occur. The abdominal surgeon is responsible for the immediate treatment of ureteral injuries that he causes and should be able to take care of most of them. The author describes methods for preventing and managing ureteral puncture, crushing injury, kinking and ligation of the ureter, partial and complete transection of ureters, excision of both short and long segments of the ureter and ureteral devascularization.