Subureteric Teflon injection (STING). Results of a European survey.

Subureteric Teflon injection (STING) has been successfully used by several investigators for treating vesicoureteric reflux (VUR) in children. This multicentre European survey reviews the results of STING in 6,216 ureters. Twenty-two paediatric surgeons/urologists from 18 centres in Europe answered an enquiry regarding their experience with STING in the treatment of VUR. 6,216 refluxing ureters were injected with Polytef paste in 4,166 children during 1984-1990. There were 975 boys and 3,191 girls. Their ages ranged from 2 months to 14 years (mean 5.1 years). The reflux was grade I in 4.4% of ureters, grade II in 36.1%, grade III in 40.2%, and grades IV and V in 19.3% of ureters. All patients were followed up for periods ranging from 3 months to 81/2 years and 90% were followed up for more than 2 years. 76.3% of all ureters stopped refluxing after a single injection of Teflon paste, cure rate increased to 84.9% after a second injection. A further 10.2% of refluxing ureters showed significant improvement in the grade of reflux after a single injection and needed no further treatment. 1.3% of ureters were cured after a third or fourth injection. Failure to correct or improve VUR was seen in 224 ureters (3.6%), necessitating reimplantation. Twenty ureters (0.32%) developed vesicoureteric junction obstruction following STING and these were reimplanted without difficulty. Results of this multicentre survey confirm that STING is an effective day care procedure for treatment of all grades of VUR. 95% of all ureters were cured or showed significant improvement after two injections of Teflon paste.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)