Ureteral substitution with appendix.

Objective: To study the long-term results of ureteral reconstruction with the appendix in patients with long ureteral strictures.

Methods: From 1998 to 2019, 26 patients were operated with substitution of extended defects of the ureter with the appendix. There were 22 women and four men (mean age 44.7 ± 11.3 years). One patient had stricture of the lumbar ureter because of a gunshot wound. He underwent substitution of the upper third of the right ureter with the appendix. In the other cases, we carried out substitution of the pelvis part of the ureter with appendix, in four cases from the left side. In the last 22 cases, a novel surgical technique for better appendicovesical anastomosis was carried out: a flap was dissected from the dome of the cecum to increase the diameter of anastomosis.

Results: The postoperative follow-up period was from 1 to 21 years. A stricture of uretero-appendical anastomosis developed in four patients (15.4%). Resection of stricture and re-anastomosis was carried out in one case. In another two cases associated with similar complications, endoureterotomy and ureteral stenting were carried out. One patient was managed with percutaneous nephrostomy. Kidney function was restored in all patients. Good short-term results were achieved in 22 patients (84.6%) and long-term (from 1 to 21 years) results in 25 patients (96.2%).

Conclusions: In patients with long ureteral stricture, the use of the appendix can help to restore the function of the upper urinary tract.