Ureteroarterial Fistulas: Diagnosis, Management, and Clinical Evolution

Background: Ureteroarterial fistulas (UAFs) have a low incidence but are a potentially fatal cause of hematuria. Initially treated by open surgery, endovascular techniques have decreased potential complications. Material and Methods: We present a short series of UAFs (n = 5) treated in our institution in the last 10 years: 1 case showed up after aorta-iliac bypass surgery, 1 case after endovascular aortic repair and embolization of right hypogastric artery, and 3 cases after oncological surgeries. We review the published literature via PubMed. Results: The different approaches (2 open and 3 endovascular procedures) were based on the clinical situation of the patients and on technical limitations. Three patients died after the procedure (2 after open surgery and 1 after endovascular treatment). In our institution, endovascular treatment showed good results in terms of early complications and associated mortality compared with open surgery. Conclusions: UAF is a rare but a potentially fatal complication in patients with predisposing factors. No long-term follow-up has been published to assess the possible complications arising from the technique, such as prosthetic infection. No antibiotic treatment protocols have been established, so long-term follow-up is necessary to determine late complications.