Is one-stage ureterocele repair possible in children?

Aim: To determine the long-term results of ureterocele repair, bearing in mind the relative rarity of the malformation, its very polymorphic appearance and the diversity of treatments.

Materials And Methods: Long-term results were assessed by postoperative follow-up of 126 children with 131 ureteroceles between 1970-2000.

Results: With a mean follow-up of 72 months, only 64.2% of children were cured after a one-stage procedure. According to the anatomical type, favourable results were obtained in 81.6% of cases with a single ureter and 57.9% of cases with a duplicated ureter. Treatment success rates for single or duplicated ureters were 73% in the case of intravesical implantation and only 53.9% (34/63 children) in ectopic forms. According to the technique, cure rates were 67.6% after distal incision in 34 children, 61.9% after total nephrectomy or upper pole nephrectomy in 42 children, 50% after ureterocele repair and ureterovesical reimplantation in 20 patients, 75% after total resection of the pathological ureter, parietal reconstruction and ipsilateral and/or contralateral reimplantation in another 20 patients.

Conclusions: A one-stage procedure is only able to cure 2/3 of patients. In view of the tendency to progressive regression of often monstrous distensions during the neonatal period, first-line treatment should consist of a distal incision, followed, in the case of recurrent infections, by partial or total nephrectomy, while reserving the intravesical approach to cases with recurrent pyelonephritis. When this surgery is performed on older children or adolescents, the ureteroceles will be smaller with a lower risk of sphincter damage.