Table 1.

Surgical Repair of Ureteral Injuries by Location

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Morey, A. F. et al. Bladder rupture after blunt trauma: guidelines for diagnostic imaging. J. Trauma 51, 683-686 (2001).
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Author(s)

Richard A. Santucci, MD

Director, Center for Urologic Reconstruction; Specialist-in-Chief for Urology, Detroit Medical Center, Detroit, Michigan

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Disclosure: Richard A. Santucci, MD, has disclosed no relevant financial relationships.

Jamie M. Bartley, DO

Third-year urology resident, Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine Metro Detroit urology program, Farmington Hills, Michigan

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Suzanne Farley

Chief Editor, Nature Reviews Urology

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Freelance writer and reviewer, Medscape, LLC

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CME

Urologic Trauma Guidelines: A 21st Century Update

Authors: Richard A. Santucci, MD; Jamie M. Bartley, DO
CME Released: 9/3/2010
THIS ACTIVITY HAS EXPIRED FOR CREDIT
Valid for credit through: 9/3/2011, 11:59 PM EST

Start Activity

Target Audience and Goal Statement

This activity is intended for urologists, nephrologists, gynecologists, trauma surgeons, and other health professionals caring for patients with urologic trauma.

The goals of this activity are to review the diagnosis, conservative and surgical management, and complications of urologic trauma.

Upon completion of this activity, participants will be able to:

Describe recommendations in regard to management of kidney injuries on the basis of a review of 2009 guidelines from the European Association of Urology
Describe recommendations in regard to management of ureteral and bladder injuries, on the basis of that review
Describe recommendations in regard to management of urethral and external genital injuries, on the basis of that review

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Author(s)

Richard A. Santucci, MD

Director, Center for Urologic Reconstruction; Specialist-in-Chief for Urology, Detroit Medical Center, Detroit, Michigan

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Disclosure: Richard A. Santucci, MD, has disclosed no relevant financial relationships.

Jamie M. Bartley, DO

Third-year urology resident, Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine Metro Detroit urology program, Farmington Hills, Michigan

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Disclosure: Jamie M. Bartley, DO, has disclosed no relevant financial relationships.

Editor(s)

Suzanne Farley

Chief Editor, Nature Reviews Urology

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Disclosure: Suzanne Farley has disclosed no relevant financial relationships.

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Laurie Barclay, MD

Freelance writer and reviewer, Medscape, LLC

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Disclosure: Laurie Barclay, MD, has disclosed no relevant financial relationships.

CME Reviewer(s)

Sarah Fleischman

CME Program Manager, Medscape, LLC

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Disclosure: Sarah Fleischman has disclosed no relevant financial relationships.

Laurie E. Scudder, DNP, NP

CME Accreditation Coordinator, Medscape, LLC

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Disclosure: Laurie E. Scudder, DNP, NP, has disclosed no relevant financial relationships.

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Ureteral Trauma

Trauma to the ureter is rare, accounting for only 1% of all urinary tract traumas. Ureteral injuries are most likely to occur iatrogenically: in a review of 452 ureteral injuries, 75% were iatrogenic, whereas blunt and penetrating trauma accounted for 18% and 7% of injuries, respectively. Gynecological procedures accounted for 73% of the iatrogenic injuries, followed by general surgical (14%) and urological (14%) procedures. The lower third of the ureter was much more commonly injured (74%) compared to the upper and middle thirds (13% each).^[48]

Diagnosis

As there are no classic symptoms and signs associated with ureteral trauma, the diagnosis is usually based on clinical suspicion.^[49] Hematuria is a poor indicator of ureteral injury, being present in only half of all cases.^[50] Physicians should suspect ureteral injury in patients with upper urinary tract obstruction, urinary fistula formation, or sepsis after surgery or traumatic injury.^[51] During surgery, direct observation of the injury, one-shot intraoperative IVP or extravasation of intravenous dye (such as methylene blue or indigo carmine) may identify the site of injury.

CT is the most frequently used diagnostic modality in this setting, owing to its prevalent general use in trauma patients. Extravasation of radiological contrast medium or unilateral nonvisualization of the ureter confirms the diagnosis.^[49,52] If CT is nondiagnostic and the suspicion is high for ureteral injury, a kidneys, ureters and bladder (KUB) radiograph taken 30 min after contrast injection can reveal extravasation. If still inconclusive, retrograde pyelography can definitively diagnose or rule out ureteral injury (Figure 4).

Figure 4.

Enlarge

Retrograde Pyelography of a Patient with Suspected Left Ureteral Injury. A ureteral catheter and nephrostomy tube are in place. An irregularity (arrow) at the level of the ureteropelvic junction is noted in the area of surgical clips, but there is no extravasation of contrast medium.

Management

Ureteral injuries are classified based on their severity. Grade I-II injuries can be managed with placement of ureteral stents or nephrostomy tubes. Stenting allows secure drainage of the kidney and provides canalization and stabilization of the injury, and is also believed to reduce the risk of subsequent stricture, although data supporting this are currently lacking.

Grade III-IV injuries should be repaired directly, using the following principles: judicious debridement of ureteral ends to healthy tissue; spatulation of ureteral ends; placement of internal stent; watertight ureteral closure with absorbable interrupted suture; placement of external drain; and isolation of injury with peritoneum or omentum. The type of repair performed depends on the location of injury ( Table 1 ).

Postoperative care typically includes removing the bladder catheter after 2 days and the wound drain 2 days later if drainage is low. The stent can be removed after 6 weeks, with follow-up IVP or renography performed after 3 months to assess the patency of the repair. Stricture formation should be recognized and treated with endourological or open surgical techniques.

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Page 3 of 8

Bladder Trauma

CME Information

References

Table 1.

CME

Urologic Trauma Guidelines: A 21st Century Update

Target Audience and Goal Statement

Disclosures

Author(s)

Richard A. Santucci, MD

Jamie M. Bartley, DO

Editor(s)

Suzanne Farley

CME Author(s)

Laurie Barclay, MD

CME Reviewer(s)

Sarah Fleischman

Laurie E. Scudder, DNP, NP

Accreditation Statements

For Physicians

Instructions for Participation and Credit

Urologic Trauma Guidelines: A 21st Century Update: Ureteral Trauma

Ureteral Trauma

Diagnosis

Figure 4.

Management

Table of Contents

Table 1.

References

Faculty and Disclosures

Author(s)

Richard A. Santucci, MD

Jamie M. Bartley, DO

Editor(s)

Suzanne Farley

CME Author(s)

Laurie Barclay, MD

CME Reviewer(s)

Sarah Fleischman

Laurie E. Scudder, DNP, NP

CME

Urologic Trauma Guidelines: A 21st Century Update

Target Audience and Goal Statement

Disclosures

Author(s)

Richard A. Santucci, MD

Jamie M. Bartley, DO

Editor(s)

Suzanne Farley

CME Author(s)

Laurie Barclay, MD

CME Reviewer(s)

Sarah Fleischman

Laurie E. Scudder, DNP, NP

Accreditation Statements

For Physicians

Instructions for Participation and Credit

Urologic Trauma Guidelines: A 21st Century Update: Ureteral Trauma

Ureteral Trauma

Diagnosis

Figure 4.

Management

Table of Contents