Intravesical sealing of the distal ureter in nephroureterectomy.

Objectives: To study the effectiveness and reliability of a new minimally invasive technique for the treatment of the terminal ureter in nephroureterectomy due to transitional cell carcinoma, both in open and laparoscopic procedures.

Methods: Observational retrospective study of 14 patients that underwent intravesical sealing and endoscopic excision of terminal ureter, before ureterectomy (11 laparoscopic, 3 open), due to an upper urinary tract tumor, between July 2003 and November 2007. This procedure was performed on 11 males and 3 females, average age 59.