ENDOSCOPIC PLACEMENT OF COAXIAL BALLOON DILATING CATHETER TO FACILITATE OPEN URETERAL SURGERY

After urinary diversion, access to the distal ureter for either resect ion or repair, especially in patients with history of infection, extra vasation, radiation, or other abdominal surgery, can be hazardous. We report two cases where the endoscopic placement of a coaxial balloon d ilating catheter prior to open exploration greatly facilitated uretera l identification and localization in a difficult surgical field.