BLADDER Z-PLASTY FOR THE REPAIR OF URETERAL INJURIES - EXPERIMENTAL-STUDY IN SHEEP

There is general acceptance that the best substitute for a damaged dis tal ureter is an elongated bladder and that the bladder psoas hitch is the most reliable procedure. Nevertheless, it is not always sufficien t to bridge a long ureteric gap. In order to obtain an equally safe bu t wider bladder elongation than the psoas hitch can provide, we have p reviously studied the effect of several Z-shaped incisions on isolated pig bladders. The aim of the present study was to verify, in vivo, th e efficacy and safety of the new technique. Five sheep underwent the p soas hitch procedure and 6 the Z-plasty procedure. The results showed that Z-plasty provides an equally safe but longer bladder elongation t han the psoas hitch procedure.