Double J stents in the treatment of gynaecological injury to the ureter

Abstract

Ureteric injury is a recognized complication of hysterectomy and may present with obstruction or fistula. Between 1987 and 1989 in Oxford nine patients with 10 injured ureters underwent attempted retrograde placement of double J stents. Three patients had successful outcomes and one patient with bilateral ureteric obstruction required reimplantation of the right ureter after successful stenting of the left ureter. One patient required removal of a stent due to irritation but her fistula eventually closed. In three patients placement was unsuccessful and in one patient injury to the bladder base prevented the ureteric orifices from being seen and hence stenting was not possible. Thus five of these 10 injured ureters were managed successfully with double J stents. We advocate the initial use of double J stents in gynaecological ureteric injury. The approach is simple and may cure the fistula. If it is unsuccessful, subsequent reimplantation is not hindered.