Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the risk factors for vesicoureteral reflux following ureteral reimplantation to identify a population that can be safely excluded from postoperative voiding cystography.
Materials and methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 273 patients who underwent ureteroneocystostomy for vesicoureteral reflux between 1990 and 1998 and recorded the postoperative renal ultrasonography and voiding cystography results.
Results: There were 273 patients (534 ureters) who underwent ureteral reimplantation. We recorded the grade of preoperative hydronephrosis and vesicoureteral reflux and noted several preoperative and intraoperative variables, such as dysfunctional voiding, breakthrough infections, renal scarring, bladder trabeculations, type of reimplant, and postoperative urinary tract infections. With a mean follow-up of 20.6 months, persistent postoperative vesicoureteral reflux was noted in 11 patients (4%). Persistent postoperative reflux was noted in 11 patients (4%) or 12 renal units (2.2%). Reflux resolution rates for 534 renal units and 273 patients after routine follow-up voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG) was 97.8% (renal units) and 96% (patients), respectively. Contralateral vesicoureteral reflux developed in 4 (5.1%) of the 78 patients who underwent unilateral reimplantation. Two patients (0.7%) had postoperative ureteral obstruction. The risk factors for persistent postoperative reflux were identified as preoperative and postoperative hydronephrosis, renal scarring, and tapered reimplantations. The type of reimplant did not correlate with outcome.
Conclusions: Vesicoureteral reflux after ureteral reimplantation is uncommon (4%). Because of the high success rate of ureteral reimplants and the benign course of those patients with persistent low-grade postoperative reflux, it is safe and efficient to eliminate postoperative VCUG in most patients who had a simple ureteral reimplantation for reflux. However, in some higher-risk patients, such as those with preoperative hydronephrosis, renal scarring, and ureteral tapering, postoperative voiding cystography may be indicated to assure resolution of vesicoureteral reflux.