Cutaneous Ureterostomy Technique for Adults and Effects of Ureteral Stenting: An Alternative to the Ileal Conduit

Purpose: We present surgical modifications that improved the outcome of cutaneous ureterostomies. Materials and Methods: A total of 310 patients with a median age of 71 years (range 38 to 88) underwent cutaneous ureterostomy as urinary diversion. Median followup was 25 months (range 1 to 172). The technique included 1) transposition of the left ureter above the inferior mesenteric artery, 2) mobilization of the ileocecal segment with repositioning above each terminal ureter, 3) abdominal wall hiatus fixation with 4 angle sutures and 4) YV plasty of the ureters with edge-to-edge anastomosis for stomal creation. In the 161 group 1 patients (59.1%) the Double-J(R) stents were removed in less than 3 months. Stents remained longer than 3 months in the 111 group 2 patients (40.8%). Results: Of the 272 patients ureteral obstruction developed in 36 (13.2%). Ureteral obstruction was on the right side in 6 patients (2.2%), on the left side in 27 (9.9%) and bilateral in 3 (1.1%). Ureteral obstruction was treated with restenting in 20 cases (55.4%), stomal revision in 12 (33.3%) and conversion to a conduit in 4 (11%). Ureteral obstruction developed on the right side, on the left side and bilaterally in 3.7%, 13.7% and 1.82% of the patients in group 1, and in 0%, 4.5% and 0%, respectively, of those in group 2. Stenting time impacted only the left ureter with less obstruction in the group with longer stent placement (greater than 3 months) (p = 0.01). Conclusions: As with other types of urinary diversion, left ureteral obstruction is a common complication of bilateral cutaneous ureterostomies. Long-term stenting for greater than 3 months and the applied surgical modifications improved the clinical outcome of this type of urinary diversion.