Uretero-ureterocutaneostomy (wrapped by omentum)

Abstract

The tubularized-incised plate urethroplasty has traditionally been used in children for repairing hypospadias. As shown here, it can also be used successfully in adults, with very good results. The rate of wound healing, infection and complications is the same as in children, as are the cosmetic and functional outcomes.

Objectives: To evaluate the outcome of uretero-ureterocutaneostomy (UUC) wrapped by omentum for palliative cystectomy in symptomatic elderly high-risk patients with high-stage bladder cancer.

Patients and methods: The study included 15 patients (14 men and one woman, aged 72-87 years, American Society of Anesthesiology score 3) with symptomatic recurrent bleeding bladder cancer (T2/T3) who were treated with palliative cystectomy. UUC was performed by mobilizing the right pre-vesical divided ureter up to the pelvi-ureteric junction and a high retroperitoneal crossover to the divided left ureter. A stoma was created with a circular 2-cm skin excision and resecting the fatty subcutaneous tissue. Wrapped by the omentum, both well-vascularized ureteric stumps were pulled through a cross-like fascia incision up to skin level. Spatulated and everted, the 'butterfly' flaps were fixed to the skin and underlying omentum. Soft splints were inserted for 21 days and a Karaya ring placed.

Results: The postoperative course and stoma healing was normal in 14 of the 15 patients; the sigmoid was resected because of sigmoid diverticulitis in one. The median (range) follow-up was 15 (6-24) months. There was pyelonephritis in one patient, and the dilatation of the upper tract (grade 3) in two returned to grade 2, with new asymptomatic grade 1 dilatation in one other. All patients were without stents and stoma care was provided at home.

Conclusions: This modified UUC by omental wrapping in 15 high-risk patients after palliative cystectomy was simple and safe, and their recovery was uneventful. To date the few patients with stomal obstruction were managed by J catheters, changed every 4-6 months.