E K Lang1, A Allaei2, L Robinson3, J Reid3, H Zinn3. 1. Department Radiology, Tulane School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA, United States; Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, 600, North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD 21205, United States; Tulane University Hospital, 1415, Tulane Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70112, United States. 2. Department of Radiology, State University of New York Downstate Medical Center, 451, Clarkson Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11203, United States. Electronic address: aallaei@gmail.com. 3. Department of Radiology, State University of New York Downstate Medical Center, 451, Clarkson Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11203, United States.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The goal of this study was to assess the efficacy of minimally invasive interventional radiologic (IR) techniques in the management of uretero-enteric fistulae in comparison to established surgical modalities. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-five patients (16 men, 9 women) with a mean age of 47 (range: 19-77 years) with uretero-enteric fistulae were treated with percutaneous nephrostomy, double "J" stent, radiologic uretero-neocystostomy, and radiologic uretero-pyelocalicostomy. All patients had a single fistula each. Uretero-enteric fistulas were due to direct or iatrogenic trauma in 14 patients (uretero-ileal fistulas, n=6; uretero-colonic fistulas, n=4; uretero-duodenal fistulas, n=2; uretero-pancreatic fistula, n=1; uretero-fallopian tube, n=1), complications of pelvic neoplasms in 4 patients (uretero-sigmoid fistulas, n=4), inflammatory disease in 4 patients (uretero-ileal fistulas, n=2; uretero-sigmoid fistulas, n=2), and avascular necrosis of renal transplants in 3 patients (uretero-sigmoid fistulas, n=3). RESULTS: Drainage by percutaneous nephrostomy and double "J" stent resulted in closure of 8 uretero-enteric fistulae over 7-16 weeks. Four uretero-enteric fistulae obliterated after re-routing urine flow using 3 radiologic uretero-neocystostomies and one IR pyelocalicostomy. In other patients, flow through the fistulae was substantially decreased by five double "J" stents and 3 percutaneous nephrostomies. The duration of inpatient hospitalization was significantly less for patients managed successfully by IR procedures than those treated by surgical modalities, 5.07 versus 10.5 days mean (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: IR procedures provided definitive treatment in 48% of uretero-enteric fistulae at significantly reduced inpatient hospitalization and cost. As palliative treatment, it improved the quality of life.
OBJECTIVES: The goal of this study was to assess the efficacy of minimally invasive interventional radiologic (IR) techniques in the management of uretero-enteric fistulae in comparison to established surgical modalities. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-five patients (16 men, 9 women) with a mean age of 47 (range: 19-77 years) with uretero-enteric fistulae were treated with percutaneous nephrostomy, double "J" stent, radiologic uretero-neocystostomy, and radiologic uretero-pyelocalicostomy. All patients had a single fistula each. Uretero-enteric fistulas were due to direct or iatrogenic trauma in 14 patients (uretero-ileal fistulas, n=6; uretero-colonic fistulas, n=4; uretero-duodenal fistulas, n=2; uretero-pancreatic fistula, n=1; uretero-fallopian tube, n=1), complications of pelvic neoplasms in 4 patients (uretero-sigmoid fistulas, n=4), inflammatory disease in 4 patients (uretero-ileal fistulas, n=2; uretero-sigmoid fistulas, n=2), and avascular necrosis of renal transplants in 3 patients (uretero-sigmoid fistulas, n=3). RESULTS: Drainage by percutaneous nephrostomy and double "J" stent resulted in closure of 8 uretero-enteric fistulae over 7-16 weeks. Four uretero-enteric fistulae obliterated after re-routing urine flow using 3 radiologic uretero-neocystostomies and one IR pyelocalicostomy. In other patients, flow through the fistulae was substantially decreased by five double "J" stents and 3 percutaneous nephrostomies. The duration of inpatient hospitalization was significantly less for patients managed successfully by IR procedures than those treated by surgical modalities, 5.07 versus 10.5 days mean (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: IR procedures provided definitive treatment in 48% of uretero-enteric fistulae at significantly reduced inpatient hospitalization and cost. As palliative treatment, it improved the quality of life.