Open Surgical Repair of Retrocaval Ureter Without Excision of Retrocaval Segment: Results of 8 Cases in a Single-Center

INTRODUCTION: Retrocaval ureter (RU) is a rare congenital anomaly characterized by the passage of the ureter through the posterior of the vena cava. We aimed to present the data of 8 cases treated with open surgical repair without excision of the retrocaval segment. METHODS: Eight patients who were operated with the diagnosis of RU in our clinic between 2005-2018 were included in the study. Demographic data, periand postoperative data of the patients were recorded and evaluated. In addition, imaging modalities were recorded. Preand postoperative values of T1⁄2 values in dynamic scintigraphy were compared. All patients underwent open ureterouretereral anostomosis without excision of the retrocaval segment. SPSS 22.0 was used for statistical analysis and p values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. RESULTS: Five patients were male and 3 were female. The mean age was 36.2 years (25-48). The mean operation time was 64 minutes (58-92). Six patients (75%) presented with flank pain. The mean hospitalization duration was 2.32 days. In the postoperative period, all patients underwent computed tomography-urography and dynamic and static renal scintigraphy with nuclear medicine study. There was no statistically significant difference between preoperative and postoperative static scintigraphy values (p = 0.741), but dynamic renal scintigraphy difference was significant (T1⁄2 was 25.7 min. preoperatively and 14.4 min. postoperatively, p = 0.016). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Re-anostomosis performed for the retrocaval ureter without any excision of the retrocaval segment yields successful results with minimal postoperative morbidity and short hospital stay.