BALLOON DILATATION OF URETERAL STRICTURES

Balloon catheter dilatation is now an accepted method for treating str ictures of the upper urinary tract. A successful result was obtained i n 34 (85%) of 40 patients with symptomatic stricture. The number of di latations required for improved runoff from the kidney was one in 26 c ases, two in six cases and three in one case. One patient had a perman ent stent and six required a conventional operation. There were seven recurrences of stricture, all within 4 months after the dilatation. On e of these patients reqUiTed nephrectomy because of nonfunctioning kid ney.