Ga. Barbalias et al., URETEROILEAL ANASTOMOTIC STRICTURES - AN INNOVATIVE APPROACH WITH METALLIC STENTS, The Journal of urology, 160(4), 1998, pp. 1270-1273
Purpose: We report our experience with the use of self-expandable meta
llic stents to bypass anastomotic strictures after ureteroileal urinar
y diversion. Materials and Methods: We evaluated 3 men and 1 woman wit
h invasive bladder carcinoma who underwent radical cystectomy and ilea
l conduit urinary diversion. Ureteroenteric anastomotic strictures dev
eloped after a mean of 16 months. Self-expandable metallic stents were
successfully placed (bilaterally in 2) comprising 6 stented ureters t
hat bypassed strictures. Mean patient age was 64 years and mean follow
up was 12 months. Results: No restenosis was observed in 3 patients du
ring followup. The stricture recurred 1 month after stent placement in
the remaining patient and additional intervention was necessary, cons
isting of placement of a totally coaxial overlapping metal stent. No s
epsis or other complication was observed. One patient died of metastat
ic disease 12 months after stent placement. Conclusions: We propose th
e use of metal stents as an adequate, safe and effective alternative t
reatment for anastomotic strictures after ureteroileal diversion.