Ureteral stricture: experience with 31 cases.

We reviewed the records of 31 patients treated during the last 5 years for ureteral stricture disease. The causes of stricture formation included ureteroenteral anastomoses (23 per cent), open ureterolithotomy (19 per cent), ureteroscopy (19 per cent), other urological procedures (16 per cent), general surgical and gynecological procedures (13 per cent) and miscellaneous causes (7 per cent). Of the patients 24 were managed initially with antegrade or retrograde balloon dilation or stenting and favorable outcomes were achieved in 12 (50 per cent), with a mean followup of 13 months. Of the 12 patients who failed endourological management 6 subsequently underwent open repair with a 100 per cent success rate. The remaining 7 patients underwent an open operation as the initial management and successful results were achieved in 6. The over-all rate of successful management of ureteral stricture disease using endoscopic and open surgical techniques was 77 per cent. A total of 7 patients (23 per cent) failed attempts at intervention: 5 showed evidence of decreasing renal function and 2 required nephrectomy.