RESUMEN
OBJECTIVE: To compare evolution in patients with urothelial upper tract tumor (UUTT) in whom we performed the classic open approach to the distal ureter with those in whom whe performed the endoscopic approach. We study the bladder recurrences in each group and the factors which may influx on the evolution. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Retrospective review of nephroureterectomies in our department in the last 20 years. Group A (n:24): double incision (lumbar and pelvic incision), Group B (n:29): endoscopical approach of the distal ureter and classic lumbar incision. A descriptive study is first performed in which we review: sex, and patients age, background transuretral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT), UUTT side, and UUTT location (calices, pelvis or urether). Pathological stage and tumor grade are also exposed. Secondly, a review of the bladder recurrences in each group is performed. In order to find differences between de groups we used the Fisher's Exact test. RESULTS: We observed that in terms of bladder recurrence there is a statistically significant difference between the two groups favoring Group B (p < 0.036), which means that there are less bladder recidives when perform endoscopic approach of distal ureter. Noneless due to the groups inhomogeneity in tumor stage, grade, and location, this differences seem to be associated to these sigues, more than to the approach to the ureter as an independant variable. In that concerning to the eventual relationship between bladder recidive and background of previous TURBT, we have not found any differences between the two groups but there are statystically significant difference in the global series. The small number of recurrences (13) does not allow us to establish a well based conclusion on this issue, but it seems that the background of previous TURBT is an important factor that may influx in posterior bladder recurrences. CONCLUSIONS: In our results, endoscopic approach of distal ureter in nephroureterectomy for UUTT does seems to positively influx in the posterior chance of bladder recurrences. But the studied sample is small and the two groups have not been aleatorized because of ethical reasons. May the low number of cases affect the test's statistical potency. It seems that previous TURBT may conditionate these recurrences, as we show in global serie. It should be necessary a prospective and statistically analised multicenter trial to understand if distal ureter approach influx on the evolution of these tumors.