This study aimed to register and analyse outcomes after iatrogenic ureteral injuries (IUI) with special emphasis on potential consequences of a delayed diagnosis, and further to analyse if the incidence of IUI has changed during the study period. 108 patients treated for an IUI during 2001-2021 were included. Injuries due to endourological procedures, planned tumour resection and traumatic injuries were excluded. All relevant information to answer the research questions were entered into a database. Chi-square and t-tests were used for categorical and continuous variables respectively. Regression analysis was used to evaluate potential change of incidence in IUIs over time. Our results showed that most IUIs (74, 69%) were caused by gynaecological surgery. 49 (45%) had a delayed diagnosis (not diagnosed intraoperatively). Younger age (mean 50 vs 62 years, p < 0.001) and benign indication for laparoscopic hysterectomy (OR 8.0, p < 0.001) predisposed for a delayed diagnosis. Patients with a delayed diagnosis had a higher number of secondary injury related procedures (mean 4.6 vs 1.7, p < 0.001), hospital admissions (mean 3.0 vs 0.8, p < 0.001) and longer hospital stays (mean 20.6 vs 3.9 days p < 0.001) compared to patients with an intraoperative diagnosis. There was complete recovery for 91% of the patients. We did not observe any changes in IUI incidence during the study period. In conclusion, our study underlines that IUI can cause major morbidity for the patient affected if not diagnosed intraoperatively. Benign indication and younger age are predictors for a delayed diagnosis. The prognosis is good, with 91% full recovery. No significant changes in incidence of IUIs were observed.© 2024. The Author(s).

To further evaluate relationships of the pelvic ureter to clinically relevant structures and to characterize the anatomy, histology, and nerve density of the distal ureter.

The highest risk of intraoperative ureteral trauma is associated with hysterectomy, performed most frequently in postmenopausal women. The overall incidence of ureteral injuries varies in different studies between 0.5% and 10%.Ureterovaginal fistula following laparoscopic subtotal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingoophorectomy is reported in this case. Ureteral injury was not noticed during operation. Two weeks after the operation the patient noticed constant urine leakage from the vagina.A computed tomography scan revealed dilation of the left renal pelvis and the upper two thirds of the ureter due to an inflammatory fibrous mass with air bubbles involving its lower part. Contrast medium outflow identified the site of urine leakage. Subsequently, diagnostic cystoscopy and ureteroscopy revealed a fistula between the ureter and the apex of the vagina. The patient developed an iatrogenic ureterovaginal fistula, which was repaired successfully with a ureteroneocystostomy over a double-J stent a month and a half later. At the follow-up 3 months post operation there was no urine leakage from the vagina, no hydronephrosis in ultrasound check-up or ureterovaginal fistula on vaginal examination.This paper highlights the problem of unnoticed ureteral injury during gynaecological surgeries, which, if overlooked, can develop into severe complications. Causes of ureteral injuries, prevention, and possible treatment options are also discussed.Copyright © 2021 Termedia.

Ureterolysis is a surgical method with a high level of difficulty, which may be necessary when performing total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH) for large cervical myoma, despite the benign nature of this tumor. The aim of the present study was to introduce techniques that are commonly applied in malignant tumor surgery in order to safely perform TLH for large cervical myoma. Between 2014 and 2016, TLH was performed at the Shimane University Hospital (Izumo, Japan) in 153 patients with benign tumors, including 25 cases with a large uterus (uterine weight ≥500 g). The surgical methods applied in 3 of these large uterine cervical myoma cases were investigated in detail, including techniques devised by our department. TLH was performed without enucleating myomectomy in all 3 cases; however, all 3 cases required ureterolysis, transection of the anterior layer of the vesicouterine ligament and isolation of the ureter. In conclusion, although radical laparoscopic hysterectomy is commonly performed for cervical cancer at our department, techniques used for malignant tumor surgery may prove useful for benign cases with a high level of difficulty.

To identify the optimal hysterectomy approach for large uteri in gynecologic surgery for benign indications from a perioperative morbidity standpoint.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and safety of a total laparoscopic hysterectomy (TLH) without the use of a uterine manipulator in women with benign indications for hysterectomy.Between January 2011 and January 2020, 1023 patients underwent a TLH without the use of any type of uterine manipulator. The indications for hysterectomy were all benign conditions. The patients' details were obtained from the hospital medical records and the indications for hysterectomy, the surgical data and the intra and postoperative complications were evaluated. All operations were performed by the same surgical team.The median age was 48.2 years, while the BMI ranged from between 26.2 kg/m and 47.8 kg/m. A small percentage of the women were menopausal (278, 27 %) and, following a detailed consultation with 563 (55 %) of the patients, we performed a TLH with adnexectomy. The mean operative time was 78 min (43-168 min), while the estimated blood loss was 59 mL (20-260 ml) and the mean uterine weight was 255 g (40-1510 g). There was no case of conversion to laparotomy. A blood transfusion was required for 14 patients (1.4 %), while there was one case of ureteral injury and three cases where the bladder was opened and fixed laparoscopically. The average hospital stay was 1.1 days, with only 38 patients staying for two or more days. In the long term, we had five cases (0.5 %) of vaginal vault dehiscence and one case of vaginal vault hematoma.A TLH without the use of a uterine manipulator is a feasible and safe procedure. While it is perhaps a more demanding procedure for young doctors, when performed by well-trained and experienced laparoscopic surgeons, the procedure entails a short operative time and a low complications rate. As such, it should be the first step in the training of young doctors for performing laparoscopic radical hysterectomies.Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

We aim to review iatrogenic bladder and ureteric injuries sustained during caesarean section and hysterectomy.

Seventy percent of ureteric injuries result from iatrogenic causes with about 75% of these diagnosed in the postoperative period. It may have fatal complications such as sepsis and or renal functional damage increasing morbidity and treatment cost.The study aimed to identify the risk factors for iatrogenic ureteric injuries from open surgical procedures and the intervention outcome in a resource-poor setting.This was a multi-centre study. The clinical records of patients with iatrogenic ureteric injuries seen between 2015-2021 who were managed at the urology units of the Margaret Marquart Catholic Hospital, and the Ho Teaching Hospital, in the Volta region of Ghana, were retrieved. The data extracted included patients' demographic factors, the clinical presentation, the primary surgery details, the time from surgery to presentation, the intervention offered, and the outcomes. The data were analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS) version 24.0.Twelve patients aged between 24-54 years with a total of 19 ureteric injuries were managed. The injuries resulted from a hysterectomy in 10 cases (83.3%), and one each from emergency caesarean section and inguinal hernia repair with traction and transection injuries respectively (16.7%). Seven out of 12 cases were diagnosed 48 h after surgery. Bilateral injuries occurred in 7 cases (14/19 injuries). Intraoperative recognition was common in unilateral injuries and surgeries performed by specialist surgeons. Ureteroneocystostomy (14/19), uretero-ureterostomy (1/19), and open suture release were the management procedures performed as in the intervention.Open hysterectomy (83.7%) was the most common procedure leading to iatrogenic ureteric injuries in this study. Intra-operative recognition occurred when trained specialist surgeons performed the surgery. Late presentation with more severe morbidity was found amongst non-specialist surgeons. Thus, improvement in training to allow intra-operative diagnosis should be encouraged in general practitioners to reduce morbidity and improve outcomes.© 2022. The Author(s).

Ureteral injury (UI) complicates 0.1%-2.5% of total laparoscopic hysterectomies (TLHs). Renal calyceal rupture (RCR) is predominantly seen in patients with ureteral stones causing ureteral obstruction. Iatrogenic (surgical and nonsurgical) causes are responsible for only 3.5% of RCR. A 45-year-old gravida 4, para 2 female with a body mass index of 20 and no previous abdominal surgeries underwent a TLH due to hypermenorrhea and secondary anemia in the presence of a myomatous uterus. Intraoperatively, pelvic endometriosis and an isthmic myoma, 4 cm in diameter, were documented. On the 2 postoperative day, the patient reported right-sided loin pain. The computed tomography scan revealed a right-sided RCR with urine extravasation and a retroperitoneal and intra-abdominal urinoma. The patient was treated with a transitory nephrostomy for 6 months, and subsequently finally with ureteroneocystostomy (psoas hitch). This case extends the spectrum of iatrogenic RCR causes as well as UI manifestations after TLH.Copyright: © 2020 Gynecology and Minimally Invasive Therapy.

Ureteral injuries are well-known complications of gynecologic surgery, with a higher prevalence in laparoscopic surgery than in laparotomy [1]. The use of near-infrared fluorescent imaging navigation is currently being considered a novel method to identify the ureters intraoperatively and prevent ureteral injuries [2]. The Near-Infrared Ray Catheter (NIRC) fluorescent ureteral catheter is a newly developed device, containing a fluorescent resin that can be recognized by near-infrared irradiation. We found few reports on the use of this catheter in laparoscopic surgery for colon and rectal cancer [3, 4], but no reports in gynecologic surgery. We demonstrate the feasibility, safety, and potential usefulness of the real-time intraoperative visualization of the ureters using a novel NIRC fluorescent ureteral catheter in laparoscopic hysterectomy for endometrial cancer. A 30-year-old woman with early grade 1 endometrioid carcinoma was treated with medroxyprogesterone acetate for fertility preservation. After achieving complete response, she got pregnant and underwent cesarean section. The recurrence of atypical endometrial hyperplasia one year post-delivery prompted a total laparoscopic hysterectomy. Before the laparoscopic surgery began, the NIRC fluorescent ureteral catheters were placed in the ureters under the obtainment of informed consent from the patient. During the surgery, the catheters were successfully visualized by near-infrared fluorescence observation, which helped identify the ureters clearly and prevent ureteral injuries. This novel ureteral imaging navigation is expected to be an effective tool in cases of obesity, severe pelvic adhesion, deep infiltrating endometriosis, and malignancy in gynecologic laparoscopic surgery to clearly identify the ureter and to reduce the risk of ureteral injury.Copyright © 2021. Asian Society of Gynecologic Oncology, Korean Society of Gynecologic Oncology, and Japan Society of Gynecologic Oncology.