Iatrogenic ureter injuries: eleven years experience in a tertiary hospital

Iatrogenic ureteric injuries are rare complications of abdomino-pelvic surgery but associated with high morbidity from infection and possible loss of renal function. A successful repair is related to the timing of diagnosis, site of injury and method of repair. This study was a retrospective review of outcomes of iatrogenic ureteric injury and factors contributing to successful operative repair. Twenty consecutive cases referred to the Urology Unit of the UKM Medical Center during an 11-year period from 1998 to 2009 were reviewed. Thirteen patients were diagnosed intraoperatively and underwent immediate repair. Seven patients had delayed diagnosis but also underwent immediate repair. In our series, there was no significant difference in outcome between injuries diagnosed intraoperatively versus injuries with delayed diagnosis. There was significant difference in the outcomes between methods of ureteric repair where ureter reimplantation via psoas hitch or Boari flap yielded better results than primary end-to-end anastomosis Three patients suffered loss of renal function from unsuccessful ureter repair. We conclude that all iatrogenic ureteric injury should be repaired immediately in the absence of overt sepsis. Ureter reimplantation using a Boari flap or psoas hitch is preferred to the end-to-end anastomosis especially when there is delayed diagnosis