Iatrogenic ureteric injuries in urological surgeries- a tertiary hospital experience.

Abstract

Objectives: To review our experience in the management of iatrogenic ureter injuries caused by different urological procedures. Study Design: Descriptive Case series. Setting: Department of Urology, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre Karachi. Period: January 2011 to December 2018. Material & Methods: We included all cases of iatrogenic ureteric injuries induced by urology department only. Gynecological and general surgical iatrogenic injuries were excluded in this study. All pertinent details like indication for surgery, type of surgery, location of injury, laterality, type of injury, time of recognition of injury (i-e intra-operative, early and late), treatment modality and their surgical outcomes were recorded. Results: We managed 56 iatrogenic ureteric injuries in 47 patients during study period. Mean age was 43.14+ 8.86 years. There were 31 males (66%) and 16 females (34%). Right sided injury was observed in 29 patients (61.7%), left sided injury in 16 patients (34.0%) while bilateral injuries were seen in 2 patients (4.3%). Regarding site of injury proximal ureteric injuries were the most common accounting for 32 patients (68.1%). Intraoperative diagnosis was the most common time for diagnosis seen in 30 patients (63.8%). The endoscopic urological surgeries were the most common cause of urological iatrogenic ureteric injury accounts for 71.4% of cases. Open upper tract surgeries were responsible for 8 cases (14.2%). One patient sustained proximal ureteric injury during retro-peritoneal lymph node dissection (RPLND). Laparoscopic urological surgeries were responsible for four cases of injury. One patient developed ureteric avulsion. 13 patients presented with late Ureteric stricture. We have five nephrectomies while three patients needed permanent nephrostomies. Our success rate was 83%. Conclusions: Endo-urological procedures are the commonest causes of ureteric injuries in our study. Prompt diagnosis and early corrective intervention can result in satisfactory outcome in about 83% of cases.