Indications for nonoperative management of ureteroceles.

PURPOSE: Ureteroceles have traditionally been managed surgically. We report our indications and outcomes of nonoperative management of ureteroceles in a select cohort. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We identified prospectively for nonoperative management 11 females and 2 males with ureteroceles associated with hydronephrosis or multicystic dysplasia (MCD). Patients presented with either a febrile urinary tract infection (3) or prenatal hydronephrosis (10). All patients were evaluated with renal and bladder ultrasound, voiding cystourethrography and mercaptoacetyltriglycine-3 furosemide renography. Two subgroups were identified, consisting of 10 duplex system upper pole ureteroceles associated with nonobstructed functional systems and 3 ureteroceles associated with a completely nonfunctional single system (2) or duplex (1) kidneys with or without MCD. Median followup was 41 months (range 13 months to 8 years). RESULTS: Of the 13 patients 9 required no surgical intervention. Of these 9 patients 3 had either a nonfunctional upper pole moiety (1) or MCD (2) that involuted, and 6 had good function of the upper pole segments relative to the lower pole without high grade obstruction on furosemide renography. Mean upper pole relative to lower pole differential function as determined by isotope renogram in these 6 patients was 40.8% (range 28% to 65%) and median drainage half-time was 5.3 minutes (4.5 to 19.3). On sonography, hydronephrosis improved in all 6 cases, with 5 (83%) decreasing to grade 0 (3) or I (2). Of these 6 cases of duplex system ureteroceles 5 had associated ipsilateral lower pole reflux of grade III (2) or IV (3). Reflux resolved in all cases. Surgery was necessary for progressive obstruction 1 patient and for breakthrough urinary tract infection in 3. The mean upper pole differential function in the operative group of 24.3% was lower than that of the nonoperative group. The initial median drainage half-time was 12.5 minutes (range 6.9 to 20). There was no significant difference between the nonoperative and operative groups in regard to hydronephrosis grade, reflux grade or ureterocele size. CONCLUSIONS: Furosemide renography can identify a select subgroup of patients with ureteroceles who are candidates for nonoperative management. Ureteroceles with nonobstructed duplex systems have better preservation of renal function and a high rate of natural resolution of hydronephrosis and reflux. Ureteroceles associated with MCD or completely nonfunctioning upper pole moieties may never require surgical management.

Clinical outcomes after lumbar discectomy for sciatica: the effects of fragment type and anular competence.

BACKGROUND: The surgical treatment of sciatica with discectomy is ineffective in a sizable percentage of patients, and reherniation occurs after 5% to 15% of such procedures. The purpose of the present study was to determine if competence of the disc anulus and the type of herniation could be used to predict postoperative clinical outcomes following lumbar discectomy. METHODS: A prospective observational study of 187 consecutive patients undergoing single-level primary lumbar discectomy was conducted. A single surgeon performed all of the procedures, and an independent examiner evaluated 180 of the patients clinically at a minimum of two and a median of six years after surgery. The extent of anular deficiency and the presence of disc fragments were determined. On the basis of these intraoperative findings, disc herniations were classified into four categories: (1) Fragment-Fissure herniations (eighty-nine patients), (2) Fragment-Defect herniations (thirty-three patients), (3) Fragment-Contained herniations (forty-two patients), and (4) No Fragment-Contained herniations (sixteen patients). The effects of disc herniation morphology and preoperative variables on subsequent clinical outcome were determined with the Student t test for continuous variables and chi-square analysis for categorical variables. RESULTS: Patients in the Fragment-Fissure group, who had disc fragments and a small anular defect, had the best overall outcomes and the lowest rates of reherniation (1%) and reoperation (1%). Patients in the Fragment-Contained group had a 10% rate of reherniation and a 5% rate of reoperation. Patients in the Fragment-Defect group, who had extruded fragments and massive posterior anular loss, had a 27% rate of reherniation and a 21% rate of reoperation. Patients in the No Fragment-Contained group did poorly: 38% had recurrent or persistent sciatica, and the standard outcomes scores were less improved compared with those in the other groups (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Intraoperative findings, as described in the present study, were more clearly associated with outcomes than were demographic, socioeconomic, or clinical variables. The degree of anular competence after discectomy and the type of herniation appear to have value for the prediction of the recurrence of sciatica, reoperation, and clinical outcome following lumbar discectomy. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic study, Level I-1 (prospective study). See p. 2 for complete description of levels of evidence.