URETEROPELVIC JUNCTION OBSTRUCTION - RELATION OF ETIOLOGY AND AGE AT SURGICAL REPAIR TO CLINICAL OUTCOME

Ureteropelvic junction (UPJ) obstruction is a congenital anomaly eithe r caused by intrinsic narrowing of the upper ureter or by extrinsic pr essure on the ureter caused by aberrant vessels or fibrous bands. We r eviewed 121 cases of pyeloplasties performed in our department for UPJ obstruction. The cases were grouped by age and by the underlying path ology. Postoperative urographic evaluation showed that dismembered pye loplasty was successful in 98.4% of the patients, with no significant difference between age groups. Persistence or recurrence of preoperati ve symptoms occurred in some patients (16.6%). Extrinsic obstruction o f the ureter was associated with better postoperative clinical results and less recurrence of symptoms.