Antegrade Percutaneous Balloon Dilation of Ureteral Strictures After Failed Pelviureteric or Ureterovesical Reimplantation in Children

ObjectivesTo assess the morbidity and success rate of percutaneous treatment of the postoperative ureteric strictures in children.Materials and MethodsBetween January 1994 and December 2003, 12 children were treated by antegrade percutaneous balloon dilation for postoperative ureteric strictures. Stenosis occurred at the pelviureteric junction in 5 cases and ureterovesical junction in 7 cases. The 10 boys and 2 girls were between 3 months and 14 years old (mean, 5 years ± 4.7 years). General anesthesia was used in 10 cases for nephrostomy catheter placement. Five ureteral stents were used additionally for nephrostomy drainage with a 6-F catheter. Both nephrostomy and ureteric stents were in place for 28.5 ± 12 days, then removed after control antegrade pyelography.ResultsDilation was technically successful in 9 of our patients. Two peroperative complications occurred. Postoperative results were evaluated by ultrasonography, intravenous urography, antegrade pyelography, and diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid renography that confirmed no obstacle in all 5 cases of pelviureteric stricture with a follow-up of 4 ± 2.9 years and in 4 cases of ureterovesical junction with a follow-up of 4.7 ± 2.8 years. Three unsuccessful results were reported: in 2 cases, the guide wire could not be advanced over the stenotic ureterovesical junction and in 1 case an early restenosis occurred that eventually required surgery.ConclusionsAlthough the main treatment of the postoperative ureteral strictures is surgical, the percutaneous antegrade balloon dilation seems to be an alternative to surgery with a low morbidity rate and short hospitalization period.