Ureteral injury during aortic aneurysm repair by the retroperitoneal approach

Three ureteral injuries (two proximal, one middle) associated with retroper itoneal repair of aortic abdominal aneurysms are reported. The authors beli eve these represent traction injuries that are related to the use of statio nary retractors and suggest that complete anterior mobilization of the left kidney from its posterior fossa will decrease the odds of such an injury.