The detection of ureteral injuries after hysterectomy

Study objectiveTo identify the incidence and outcomes of ureteral injuries in patients undergoing hysterectomy, and to evaluate the effect of intraoperative cystoscopy and early postoperative ureteral jet ultrasonography.DesignRetrospective comparative study (Canadian Task Force classification II-2).SettingTertiary medical center.PatientsFifteen patients who experienced ureteral injuries while undergoing hysterectomy out of 4950 total patients during a 6-year period.InterventionsAll patients underwent hysterectomy, and intraoperative cystoscopy or early postoperative ureteral jet ultrasonography were used to evaluate ureteral integrity.Measurements and main resultsThe incidence of ureteral injury recognized after hysterectomy was 0.32%, and all ureteral injuries occurred during laparoscopic hysterectomy. The initial detection of ureteral injury resulted from intraoperative cystoscopy in five patients, early postoperative ureteral jet ultrasonography in two patients, and signs and symptoms in eight patients. The patients whose injuries were detected by either intraoperative cystoscopy or early postoperative ureteral jet ultrasonography were diagnosed earlier (1.7 and 19.9 postoperative days, respectively; p <.01) and tended toward more conservative treatment (p = .119; OR = 10; 95% CI 0.78–128.78) than those who were diagnosed based on signs and symptoms alone.ConclusionsUse of intraoperative cystoscopy or early postoperative ureteral jet ultrasonography leads to earlier diagnosis of posthysterectomy ureteral injury, thereby allowing for more conservative treatment.